Adhesive Articles and Related Methods

Abstract

Cure in place pressure sensitive adhesive compositions are described that comprise one or more of a bodying component, a structural diluent, a radical diluent as well as additives such as crosslinkers, external catalysts, photoinitiators and stabilizers/process aids. The bodying component can be acrylic or non-acrylic.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An adhesive article comprising:
 a substrate layer including a foamed material;   at least one layer of a convertible pressure sensitive adhesive which can be converted to a structural adhesive, the at least one layer of convertible adhesive disposed on the foamed substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The adhesive article of  claim 1  wherein the at least one layer of the convertible adhesive includes a first layer of a convertible pressure sensitive adhesive and a second layer of a convertible pressure sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         3 . The adhesive article of  claim 2  wherein the foamed substrate is disposed between the first layer of the convertible pressure sensitive adhesive and the second layer of the convertible pressure sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         4 . The adhesive article of  claim 2  wherein the convertible pressure sensitive adhesive of the first layer is compositionally different than the convertible pressure sensitive adhesive of the second layer. 
     
     
         5 . The adhesive article of  claim 2  wherein the convertible pressure sensitive adhesive of the first layer is the same as the convertible pressure sensitive adhesive of the second layer. 
     
     
         6 . The adhesive article of  claim 1  wherein the foamed substrate is a first substrate layer, the article comprising:
 a second substrate layer disposed along one of the foamed substrate and the adhesive layer. 
 
     
     
         7 . The adhesive article of  claim 1  wherein the convertible adhesive can be converted to a structural adhesive upon heating. 
     
     
         8 . The adhesive article of  claim 1  wherein the convertible adhesive can be converted to a structural adhesive upon exposure to radiation. 
     
     
         9 . The adhesive article of  claim 8  wherein the substrate layer is at least substantially transparent and allows transmission of ultraviolet light to pass therethrough to the adhesive layer and thereby convert the adhesive layer to a structural adhesive. 
     
     
         10 . A method of bonding a component to a surface, the method comprising:
 providing the adhesive article of  claim 1 ;   positioning the component on the surface;   contacting the pressure sensitive adhesive layer with both the component and the surface.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 converting the pressure sensitive adhesive to a structural adhesive. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the converting is performed by at least one of heating the adhesive and irradiating the adhesive. 
     
     
         13 . A method of bonding a component to a surface, the method comprising:
 providing the adhesive article of  claim 2 ;   contacting the first layer of the pressure sensitive adhesive with the component;   contacting the second layer of the pressure sensitive adhesive with the surface.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 converting the pressure sensitive adhesive of the first layer and the second layer to a structural adhesive. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the converting is performed by at least one of heating the adhesive and irradiating the adhesive.