Edge coatings for tapes

Abstract

Disclosed is a tape including a substrate having an adhesive layer applied thereto and an edge coating. The substrate and the adhesive together provide at least one masking edge where the edge coating is applied. The edge coating includes a flocculating agent. The edge coating provides the tape with enhanced masking ability.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tape comprising:
 a substrate having an adhesive layer applied thereto, the substrate and the adhesive together providing at least one masking edge; and   an edge coating applied to the at least one masking edge, the edge coating including a flocculating agent.   
     
     
         2 . The tape of  claim 1  wherein the edge coating is a powder. 
     
     
         3 . The tape of  claim 2  wherein the particle size of the powder is about 100 μm or less. 
     
     
         4 . The tape of  claim 1  wherein the edge coating prevents or reduces the tendency for an applied paint or coating from being absorbed into the substrate or from penetrating the interface between the adhesive layer and an adherend. 
     
     
         5 . The tape of  claim 1  wherein the flocculating agent is a polyvalent metal salt or an ionic polymer. 
     
     
         6 . The tape of  claim 5  wherein the edge coating is applied as an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         7 . The tape of  claim 6  wherein the solution has a concentration of at least about 40% of the agent. 
     
     
         8 . The tape of  claim 1  wherein the edge coating is applied to both edges of the tape. 
     
     
         9 . The tape of  claim 1  wherein the substrate is paper. 
     
     
         10 . The tape of  claim 1  wherein the substrate is foil. 
     
     
         11 . The tape of claim  20  wherein the flocculant is selected from the group consisting of aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum sulfate, ferrous sulfate, ferrous sulfide, ferric sulfide, ferric hydroxide, calcium sulfate, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide and Fe 2  (SO 4 ) 3  Fe Cl 3 . 
     
     
         12 . The tape of  claim 6  wherein the aqueous solution has a concentration of at least 4% flocculating agent. 
     
     
         13 . The tape of  claim 1  where the edge coating has a dry coat weight of about 0.1 to about 50 g/m 2 .