Moisture-vapor-permeable pressure-sensitive adhesive materials

Abstract

This invention relates to a moisture-vapor-permeable pressure-sensitive adhesive material for use on animal skin and nails, e.g. a surgical drape, suture strip or sheet, adhesive dressing, bandage, plaster, strapping tape, decorative nail covering, or decorative cosmetic product. The adhesive material comprises a backing material, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive on at least substantially the whole of the body adhering portion of at least one surface of said backing material, both said backing material and said adhesive being moisture-vapor-permeable and unaffected by water and at least one of said backing material and said adhesive comprising a synthetic polymer and .Iadd.both said backing material and said adhesive .Iaddend.being continuous and nonpermeable to liquid water, said adhesive material having a moisture vapor permeability of at least 300 g./sq. meter/24 hours/40° C./80 percent RH.

We claim: .[. 
     
       1.  A moisture-vapour-permeable pressure-sensitive adhesive material for use on an animal skin and nails comprising a backing material, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive on at least substantially the whole of the body-adhering portion of at least one surface of said backing material, both said backing material and said adhesive being moisture-vapour-permeable and unaffected by water and at least one of said backing material and said adhesive comprising a synethetic polymer and being continuous and nonpermeable to liquid water, said adhesive material having a moisture vapor permeability of at least 300 g./sq. meter/24 hours/40° C./80 percent RH..]. .[.2. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 1, which has a moisture vapor permeability of at least 500 g./sq. meter/24 hours/40° C. and 80 percent RH..]. .[.3. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 1, which is oxygen-permeable..]. .[.4. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the backing material is continuous and the adhesive is not continuous..]. .[.5. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 1, which is in the form of a surgical drape, suture strip or sheet, adhesive dressing, bandage, plaster, strapping 
     
     
        tape, decorative nail covering or decorative cosmetic product..]. .[.6.  A moisture-vapor-permeable pressure sensitive adhesive material for use on animal skin and nails comprising a backing material and a pressure-sensitive adhesive on at least substantially the whole of the body-adhering portion of at least one surface of said backing material, both said backing material and said adhesive being moisture-vapour-permeable and unaffected by water and at least said adhesive comprising a synthetic polymer and being continuous and nonpermeable to liquid water, said adhesive material having a moisture vapor permeability of at least 300 g./sq. meter/24 hours/40° C./80 percent RH..]. .[.7. A pressure-sensitive adhesive as claimed in claim 6 wherein the adhesive is a polyvinyl ethyl ethers or an acrylic ester copolymer containing hydrophilic groups..]. .[.8. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 6 wherein the backing material is noncontinuous..]. .[.9. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 8 wherein the backing material is a microporous film of plasticized polyvinyl chloride or nonwoven fabric..]. .[.10. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 9, wherein the nonwoven fabric is based on cellulose or synthetic polymer fibers which may be crimped and/or laid down in such a manner as to give an elastic fabric..]. .[.11. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fabric comprises extruded composite synthetic fibers 
     
     
        or a spun-bonded polyester fabric..]. .[.12.  A moisture-vapour-permeable pressure-sensitive adhesive material for use on animal skin and nails, comprising a backing material having a pressure-sensitive adhesive on at least substantially the whole of the body-adhering portion of at least one surface of said backing material, both said backing material and said adhesive being moisture-vapour permeable and unaffected by water and both said backing material and said adhesive comprising a synthetic polymer and being continuous and nonpermeable to liquid water, said adhesive material having a moisture-vapour-permeability of at least 300g/sq.meter/24 hours/40° C./80 percent RH..]. .[.13. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 12 wherein the backing material comprises a copolymer obtainable by copolymerizing an hydroxy alkyl acrylate or methacrylate with an alkoxy alkyl acrylate or methacrylate and optionally with a minor amount of a further monomer..]. .[.14. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 12, wherein the backing material comprises a homopolymer of ethoxy ethyl methacrylate or methoxy ethyl methacrylate or a copolymer of methyl methacrylate with ethoxy ethyl methacrylate or methoxy ethyl methacrylate..]. .[.15. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 12 wherein the backing material 
     
     
        comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane film..]. .[.16.  A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 12, wherein the adhesive comprises a polyvinyl ethyl ether..]. .[.17. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 12 which is in the form of a nail cover, a medical or surgical dressing, a surgical drape, a suture strip, an elastic adhesive bandage or a strapping tape..]. .[.18. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 12, which is in the form of a nail cover and the backing material has a thickness of from 1 to 3 mils..]. .[.19. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 17 which is in the form of a nail cover and in which the adhesive is applied in an amount of from 5 to 75 grams per square meter..]. .[.20. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 12 wherein the backing material comprises a copolymer obtainable by reacting an alkoxy alkyl acrylate or methacrylate with a different alkoxy alkyl acrylate or methacrylate, no monomers other than alkoxy alkyl acrylates or methacrylates or polymers formed therefrom being present in the reaction mixture..]. .[.21. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 20, wherein the backing material comprises a copolymer of ethoxyethyl methacrylate and methoxy ethyl methacrylate..]. .[.22. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 21, wherein the backing material comprises a 50/50, 60/40 or 70/30 copolymer of MEMA/EEMA..]. .[.23. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 20 wherein the adhesive comprises a polyvinyl ethyl ether..]. .[.24. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 20 which is in the form of a suture strip and which is wholly or partially reinforced with woven or nonwoven fabrics..]. .[.25. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 13 wherein said hydroxy alkyl acrylate or said methoacrylate comprises hydroxy ethyl methacrylate, hydroxy propyl acrylate, or hydroxy propyl methacrylate, and wherein said alkoxy alkyl acrylate or methacrylate comprises ethoxy ethyl methacrylate or methoxy ethyl methacrylate..]. .[.26. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 17 in which the backing material is reinforced by a 
     
     
        nonwoven material..]. .Iadd.27.  A moisture-vapor-permeable adhesive dressing for use on human skin which adhesive dressing when in use on human skin consists of a polyurethane backing material with a pressure-sensitive adhesive on the whole of the skin-adhering face thereof, said backing material being continuous and consisting of a film of thermoplastic polyurethane which is permeable to oxygen and moisture vapor but is unaffected by and impermeable to liquid water, said adhesive comprising an acrylic ester co-polymer containing hydrophillic groups which is permeable to oxygen and moisture vapor but is unaffected by and impermeable to liquid water wherein the hydrophillic group is a hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine, amide, ether or alkoxy group, said adhesive dressing having a moisture-vapor-permeability of at least 300 g/sq. meter/24 hours/40° C./80% RH..Iaddend. .Iadd.28. A moisture-vapor-permeable adhesive dressing as claimed in claim 27 having a moisture-vapor-permeability of at least 500 g/sq. meter/24 hours/40° C./80% RH..Iaddend. .Iadd.29. A moisture-vapor-permeable adhesive dressing for use on human skin which adhesive dressing when in use on human skin consists of a backing material with a pressure-sensitive adhesive on the whole of the skin-adhering face thereof, said backing material being continuous and consisting of a film of thermoplastic polyurethane which is permeable to oxygen and moisture vapor but is unaffected by and impermeable to liquid water, said adhesive comprising an acrylic ester co-polymer containing hydrophilic groups which is permeable to oxygen and moisture vapor but unaffected by and impermeable to liquid water; said adhesive dressing having a moisture-vapor-permeability of at least 300 g/sq. meter/24 hours/40° C./80% RH and prior to use on 
     
     
        human skin has a protector covering the adhesive..Iaddend. .Iadd.30.  A moisture-vapor-permeable adhesive dressing as claimed in claim 29 having a moisture-vapor-permeability of at least 500 g/sq. meter/24 hours/40° C./80% RH..Iaddend. .Iadd.31. A moisture-vapor-permeable adhesive dressing as claimed in claim 29 in which the hydrophilic group is a hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine, amide, ether or alkoxy group..Iaddend. .Iadd.32. A moisture-vapor-permeable adhesive dressing as claimed in claim 30 in which the hydrophilic group is a hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine, amide, ether or alkoxy group..Iaddend. .Iadd.33. A moisture-vapor-permeable adhesive dressing as claimed in claim 29 in which the adhesive is continuous..Iaddend. .Iadd.34. A moisture-vapor-permeable adhesive dressing as claimed in claim 30 in which the adhesive is 
     
     
        continuous..Iaddend. .Iadd.35.  A moisture-vapor-permeable adhesive dressing as claimed in claim 27 wherein said film of thermoplastic polyurethane is 1 mil. thick..Iaddend. .Iadd.36. A moisture-vapor-permeable adhesive dressing as claimed in claim 27 in which the hydrophillic group is an amide..Iaddend. .Iadd.37. A moisture-vapor-permeable adhesive dressing as claimed in claim 27 in which the hydrophillic group is an amide.  .Iadd.38. A moisture-vapor-permeable adhesive dressing as claimed in claim 29 wherein said film of thermoplastic polyurethane is 1 mil. thick..Iaddend. .Iadd.39. A moisture-vapor-permeable adhesive dressing as claimed in claim 29 in which the hydrophillic group is an amide..Iaddend. .Iadd.40. A moisture-vapor-permeable adhesive dressing as claimed in claim 30 in which the hydrophillic group is an amide..Iaddend.