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 . An adhesive backed article comprising:
 a compliant film having a thickness in the range of 25 μm to 100 μm, and an inelastic deformation of at least 5% after being stretched once to 115% of its original length;   a pressure sensitive adhesive layer bonded to a surface of the compliant film, having a thickness in the range of 10 μm to 50 μm;   a release liner positioned on the surface of the pressure sensitive adhesive layer opposite the compliant film, the release liner having a microstructured release surface that include protrusions for forming a pattern of channels in the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer;   wherein the channels are arranged at a pitch of about 400 μm or less and wherein the channels define a volume of at least 1×10 3  μm 3  to 1×10 7  μm 3  per a 500 μm diameter circular area of the adhesive backed article;   wherein after the film is applied to a substrate, the pattern of channels is substantially undetectable on a planar upper surface of the compliant film when viewed with an unaided eye.   
     
     
         2 . The adhesive backed article of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive layer has a Wet-Out Test result of at least 85 percent after the article is adhered to the surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The adhesive backed article of  claim 1 , wherein the channels define exit pathways that provide a fluid egress from behind the adhesive backed article, when the adhesive backed article is applied to the substrate surface. 
     
     
         4 . The adhesive backed article of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive surface comprises a plurality of structures which at least partially define the pattern of channels, and the structures are regularly placed about the adhesive surface. 
     
     
         5 . The adhesive backed article of  claim 1 , wherein the channels have an aspect ratio in the range of 0.1 to 20. 
     
     
         6 . The adhesive backed article of  claim 1 , where the article, upon application of the pressure sensitive adhesive onto the substrate exhibits from the upper surface of said complaint film an appearance having no periodicity and no surface roughness beyond the surface roughness of the film by itself, in accordance with the surface roughness test. 
     
     
         7 . The adhesive backed article of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions have a height that is less than the total thickness of the adhesive layer, and in the range of 3 micrometers to about 30 micrometers. 
     
     
         8 . An adhesive backed article comprising:
 a compliant film having a thickness in the range of 25 μm to 100 μm, and an inelastic deformation of at least 5% after being stretched once to 115% of its original length;   a pressure sensitive layer adhesive bonded to a surface of the compliant film, having a thickness in the range of 10 μm to 50 μm;   a release liner positioned on the surface of the pressure sensitive adhesive opposite the compliant film, the release liner having a microstructured release surface that include protrusions for forming a pattern of channels in the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer;   wherein the channels are arranged at a pitch of about 400 μm or less and wherein the channels define a volume of at least 1×10 3  μm 3  to 1×10 7  μm 3  per a 500 μm diameter circular area of the adhesive backed article;   wherein after final application of said adhesive-backed film onto a contoured surface of a motor vehicle, the pattern of said channels is prevented from appearing on the surface of said compliant film.   
     
     
         9 . The adhesive backed article of  claim 8 , wherein upon initial contact with the motor vehicle surface, the adhesive surface of the pressure sensitive adhesive layer has an initial surface contact area of at least 60 percent of the total area of the pressure sensitive adhesive layer. 
     
     
         10 . The adhesive backed article of  claim 8 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive has a wet-out test result of at least 85 percent after the article is adhered to the contoured surface of the motor vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The adhesive backed article of  claim 8 , wherein the channels define exit pathways that provide a fluid egress from behind the adhesive backed article, when the adhesive backed article is adhered to the contoured surface of the motor vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The adhesive backed article of  claim 8 , wherein the adhesive surface comprises a plurality of structures which at least partially define the pattern of channels, and the structures are regularly placed about the adhesive surface. 
     
     
         13 . The adhesive backed article of  claim 8 , wherein the channels have an aspect ratio in the range of 0.1 to 20. 
     
     
         14 . The adhesive backed article of  claim 8 , where the article, upon application of the pressure sensitive adhesive onto the contoured surface of the motor vehicle exhibits from the upper surface of said complaint film an appearance having no periodicity and no surface roughness beyond the surface roughness of the film by itself, in accordance with the Surface Roughness Test. 
     
     
         15 . The adhesive backed article of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions have a height that is less than the total thickness of the adhesive layer, and in the range of 3 micrometers to about 30 micrometers.