Adhesive-backed articles

Abstract

Methods of preparing adhesive-backed articles and methods of applying adhesives backed articles are described. The adhesive-backed articles include a compliant film and a pressure-sensitive adhesive having a microstructured surface opposite the compliant film.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of preparing an adhesive-backed article, said method comprising:
 providing a release liner having a microstructured release surface;   providing a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer having a microstructured adhesive surface, with a pattern of channels being formed in the microstructured adhesive surface that define a volume of at least 1×10 3  μm 3  per any 500 μm diameter circular area of the pattern; and   laminating a compliant film to a surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer that is opposite the microstructured adhesive surface, with the compliant film being solid and pigmented and having an inelastic deformation after being stretched once to 115 percent of its original length,   wherein the microstructured adhesive surface is in contact and mated with the microstructured release surface, and the microstructured adhesive surface has channels that define exit pathways that can provide fluid egress to a periphery of the compliant film.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 coating a pressure-sensitive adhesive onto the microstructured release surface to form the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 coating the compliant film with a pressure-sensitive adhesive; and   embossing an exposed surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive coated on the compliant film to form the microstructured adhesive surface.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 embossing the release liner to form the microstructured release surface.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compliant film has an inelastic deformation of at least 5 percent after being stretched once to 115 percent of its original length. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microstructured surface comprises a plurality of structures which at least partially define the channels, and the structures are regularly placed about the microstructured surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microstructured surface comprises a plurality of structures which at least partially define the channels, and the structures are randomly placed about the microstructured surface of said adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microstructured surface comprises a plurality of structures which at least partially define the channels, and the structures are arranged at a pitch of about 400 μm or less. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microstructured surface comprises a plurality of structures which at least partially define the channels, and the structures have a height of about 3 μm to about 50 μm. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compliant film comprises a primer layer on a surface laminated to the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compliant film has a thickness of about 300 μm or less. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the release liner comprises a thermoplastic film. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the release liner comprises a paper laminated or coated with a thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the release liner comprises a polyethylene coated paper. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive comprises a solvent based acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         16 . A method of applying an adhesive-backed article to a motor vehicle surface, said method comprising:
 providing an adhesive-backed article suitable for being adhered to the motor vehicle surface, with the adhesive-backed article comprising a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer having a microstructured surface and an opposite surface bonded to a compliant film, with the compliant film being solid and pigmented and having an inelastic deformation after being stretched once to 115 percent of its original length, a pattern of channels being formed in the microstructured surface that define a volume of at least 1×10 3  μm 3  perany 500 μm diameter circular area of the pattern, and the microstructured surface having channels defining exit pathways that can provide fluid egress to a periphery of the compliant film; and   adhering the microstructured surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer to the motor vehicle surface.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the compliant film has an inelastic deformation of at least 5 percent after being stretched once to 115 percent of its original length. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein upon initial contact with the substrate, said pressure-sensitive adhesive layer has an initial surface contact area of at least about 60 percent of the total area of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the compliant film after adherence to the substrate has the same surface roughness as that of the compliant film itself. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive has a wet out test result of at least 85 percent and the channels are substantially undetectable on an outer surface of the compliant film.