Adhesive articles which contain at least one hydrophilic or hydrophobic layer, method for making and uses for same

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adhesive article which can be used as a layer in or a cover for various articles in which a hydrophilic or hydrophobic surface is desired. The adhesive article includes a base layer having a first surface and a second surface and a coating layer formed on the first surface of the base layer, where the coating layer contains at least one adhesive resin and at least one hydrophilic polymer; at least one adhesive resin (which can be a hydrophobic polymer) and at least one surfactant; or at least one adhesive resin, at least one hydrophilic polymer and at least one surfactant. Given the application, the coating layer can be formulated to provide either a hydrophilic or hydrophobic surface. The polymer portion of the coating provides the coating layer with sufficient hydrophilic properties to increase the rate fluid transport across (or in the area near) the coating layer.

1 . An adhesive article comprising: 
 a base layer having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the base layer is formed from polycarbonate film, polyacryl film, polymethacryl film, styrenic polymer film, polyolefin film, or a co-polymer film formed from one or more of the polymers used in making the foregoing polymer films; and    a coating layer on the first surface of the base layer, wherein the coating layer comprises: (A) at least one adhesive resin; and (B) at least one hydrophilic polymer, at least one surfactant, or a combination of at least one hydrophilic polymer and at least one surfactant; with the proviso that when (B) is only a surfactant, the coating layer contains less than about 40% by weight polyurethane.    
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the polyolefin film is formed from a polymer derived from ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, octene, or a mixture of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the polyolefin film is formed from a polymer derived from ethylene and at least one additional monomer, the additional monomer comprising propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, methyl pentene, or a mixture of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the polyolefin film is derived from a low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, ultra low density polyethylene, a linear low density polyethylene, or a mixture of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the polyolefin film is derived from propylene and at least one additional monomer, the additional monomer comprising 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, methyl pentene, or a mixture of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the base layer is formed from at least one thermoplastic polymer derived from ethylene and/or propylene and at least one additional monomer, the additional monomer comprising alkyl acrylate, acrylic acid, alkyl acrylic acid, or a mixture of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the base layer has a thickness in the range from about 0.5 mils to about 10 mils.  
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive resin comprises ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl acetate acrylic, vinyl acrylic, ethylene vinyl chloride, or a mixture of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer comprises cellulosic polymer, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, dextran, nylon, polyamide, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, starch, gelatin, or a mixture of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant comprises at least one anionic surfactant, at least one cationic surfactant, at least one non-ionic surfactant, or a mixture of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the coating layer further comprises a defoamer.  
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the coating layer comprises at least one adhesive resin and at least one hydrophilic polymer.  
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the coating layer comprises at least one adhesive resin and at least one surfactant.  
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the coating layer comprises at least one adhesive resin, at least one hydrophilic polymer, and at least one surfactant.  
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the base layer is heat stabilized.  
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the coat weight of the coating layer is in the range from about 15 grams per square meter to about 60 grams per square meter.  
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the coating layer is free of polyurethane.  
     
     
         18 . An adhesive article comprising: 
 a base layer having a first surface and a second surface; and    a coating layer formed on the first surface of the base layer, wherein the coating layer comprises: from about 10% to about 90% by weight of at least one adhesive resin; from about 10% to about 90% by weight of at least one hydrophilic polymer; and from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of at least one surfactant.    
     
     
         19 . A method of making an adhesive article comprising: 
 (A) providing a base layer having a first and second surface, wherein the base layer is formed from polycarbonate film, polyacryl film, polymethacryl film, styrenic polymer film, polyolefin film, or a co-polymer film formed from one or more of the polymers used in making the foregoing polymer films; and    (B) forming at least one coating layer on the first surface of the base layer, wherein the coating layer comprises: (A) at least one adhesive resin; and (B) at least one hydrophilic polymer, at least one surfactant, or a combination of at least one hydrophilic polymer and at least one surfactant; with the proviso that when (B) is only a surfactant, the coating layer contains less than about 40% by weight polyurethane.    
     
     
         20 . A method of making a location and/or the surrounding area of the location more hydrophilic, comprising: 
 (1) forming an adhesive article comprising a base layer having a first and second surface; and at least one coating layer on the first surface of the base layer;    the base layer being formed from polycarbonate film, polyacryl film, polymethacryl film, styrenic polymer film, polyolefin film, or a co-polymer film formed from one or more of the polymers used in making the foregoing polymer films;    the coating layer comprising: (A) at least one adhesive resin; and (B) at least one hydrophilic polymer, at least one surfactant, or a combination of at least one hydrophilic polymer and at least one surfactant; with the proviso that when (B) is only a surfactant, the coating layer contains less than about 40% by weight polyurethane; and    (2) placing the adhesive article on the location to increase the hydrophilic properties of the location and/or the surrounding area of the location.    
     
     
         21 . A method of making a substrate having a fluid transport area more hydrophilic, comprising: 
 (1) providing a substrate having at least one fluid transport area; and    (2) placing at least one adhesive article over the fluid transport area, the at least one adhesive article comprising a base layer having a first and second surface, and at least one coating layer on the first surface of the base layer;    the base layer being formed from polycarbonate film, polyacryl film, polymethacryl film, styrenic polymer film, polyolefin film, or a co-polymer film formed from one or more of the polymers used in making the foregoing polymer films;    the coating layer comprising: (A) at least one adhesive resin; and (B) at least one hydrophilic polymer, at least one surfactant, or a combination of at least one hydrophilic polymer and at least one surfactant; with the proviso that when (B) is only a surfactant, the coating layer contains less than about 40% by weight polyurethane.