High traction roofing underlayment

Abstract

A high traction underlayment includes a traction layer on a surface side that is configured to provide higher friction for walking traction on a roof. The traction layer may include a meltblown layer of a low molecular weight polymer. The high traction underlayment includes a barrier layer to prevent water leakage through the high traction underlayment and an adhesive layer that is configured to bond to the roof and to an overlap area of another high traction underlayment. The traction layer may be a fabric, such as a woven or non-woven and may be a fleece. The traction layer may be configured to bond to the adhesive of an adhesive layer of an overlapped high traction underlayment to secure the overlapped pieces together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A high traction roof underlayment comprising:
 a) a surface side;   b) a roof side configured for placement on a roof surface;   c) a barrier layer;   d) a traction layer on the surface side of the high traction roof underlayment, opposite the roof side, said traction layer comprising a meltblown layer of meltblown fibers.   
     
     
         2 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 1 , wherein the meltblown fiber layer has an average meltblown fiber diameter of more than 20 micrometers. 
     
     
         3 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 1 , wherein the meltblown layer further comprises fiber clusters. 
     
     
         4 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 3 , wherein the fiber clusters have a size of about 2 mm or more. 
     
     
         5 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 3 , wherein the fiber clusters are elongated having a length to width ratio of 4:1 or more. 
     
     
         6 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 3 , wherein the fiber clusters have an areal density of 50/929 cm 2  (1 ft 2 ) or more. 
     
     
         7 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 3 , wherein the meltblown has an area concentration of no more than 35%. 
     
     
         8 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 3 , wherein the fiber clusters have a size of about 2 mm or more;
 wherein the fiber clusters are elongated having a length to width ratio of 4:1 or more;   wherein the fiber clusters have an areal density of 50/929 cm 2  (1 ft 2 ) or more.   
     
     
         9 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 8 , wherein the meltblown layer further comprises shot of meltblown polymer. 
     
     
         10 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 9 , wherein the shot has a size of about 200 micrometers or more. 
     
     
         11 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 10 , wherein the shot has an aspect ratio of 4:1 or less. 
     
     
         12 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 11 , wherein the shot have an areal density of 100/929 cm 2  (1 ft 2 ) or more. 
     
     
         13 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 3 , wherein the meltblown layer further comprises a plurality of shot of meltblown polymer. 
     
     
         14 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of shot has a size of about 200 micrometers or more. 
     
     
         15 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of shot has an aspect ratio of 4:1 or less. 
     
     
         16 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of shot have an areal density on the meltblown layer of 100/929 cm 2  (1 ft 2 ) or more. 
     
     
         17 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 13 , wherein the shot has a size of about 200 micrometers or more;
 wherein the shot has an aspect ratio of 4:1 or less;   wherein the shot have an areal density of 100/929 cm 2  (1 ft 2 ) or more;   wherein the meltblown has an areal mass of no more than 25 g/m 2 .   
     
     
         18 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 1 , wherein the meltblown has an areal mass of no more than 25 g/m 2 . 
     
     
         19 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 1 , wherein the meltblown layer is made of a polymer with a melt flow rate of 400 or more and wherein the meltblown layer comprises polypropylene. 
     
     
         20 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 1 , wherein the high traction roof underlayment further comprises a meltblown support layer. 
     
     
         21 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer is a polymer film layer. 
     
     
         22 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 21 , wherein the high traction roof underlayment further comprises adhesive layer on the roof side of the high traction roof underlayment. 
     
     
         23 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 22 , wherein the high traction roof underlayment further comprises a release layer.