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 .[.animal.]. .Iadd.human .Iaddend.skin .[.and nails,.]. comprising a .Iadd.continuous .Iaddend.backing material.[.,.]. .Iadd.which is on unreinforced thermoplastic polyurethane film .Iaddend.and a .Iadd.continuous .Iaddend.pressure sensitive adhesive on at least substantially the whole of the body-adhering portion of at least one surface of said .Iadd.continuous .Iaddend.backing material, both said .Iadd.continuous .Iaddend.backing material and said .Iadd.continuous .Iaddend.adhesive being .[.moisture-vapour-permeable, and unaffected by water.]. .Iadd.oxygen-permeable, synthetic polymers which are moisture vapour permeable, unaffected by water .Iaddend..[.and at least one of said backing material and said adhesive comprising a synthetic polymer and being continuous.]. and .[.nonpermeable.]. .Iadd.non-permeable .Iaddend.to liquid water said adhesive material having a moisture vapor permeability of at least .[.300.]. .Iadd.500.Iaddend.g/sq. meter/24hours/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 at 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.]. .Iadd.or wound .Iaddend.dressing.[., bandage, plaster, strapping tape, decorative nail covering, or decorative 
     
     
        cosmetic product.].. 6. A moisture-vapour-permeable pressure-sensitive adhesive material for use on .[.animal.]. .Iadd.human .Iaddend.skin .[.and nails,.]. comprising a .Iadd.continuous .Iaddend.backing material .Iadd.which is on unreinforced thermoplastic polyurethane film .Iaddend.and a .Iadd.continuous .Iaddend..[.pressure-sensitive.]..Iadd.pressure sensitive .Iaddend.adhesive .Iadd.selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl ethyl ethers and acrylic ester copolymers containing hydrophilic groups .Iaddend.on at least substantially the whole of the body-adhering portion of at least one surface of said .Iadd.continuous .Iaddend.backing material, both said .Iadd.continuous .Iaddend.backing material and said .Iadd.continuous .Iaddend.adhesive being .[.moisture-vapour-permeable .[.and.]. .Iadd.synthetic polymers which are .Iaddend.unaffected by water and .[.at least said adhesive comprising a synthetic polymer and being continuous and nonpermeable.]. and .Iadd.are non-permeable .Iaddend.to liquid water, said adhesive material having a moisture .[.vapor.]. .Iadd.vapour .Iaddend.permeability of at least .[.300.]. .Iadd.500.Iaddend.g/sq. .[.meter.]. .Iadd.meter.Iaddend./24 
     
     
        hours/40° C./80 percent RH. 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 .Iadd.which is an unreinforced thermoplastic polyurethane film .Iaddend.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.]. .Iadd.non-permeable .Iaddend.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. .[.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 .Iadd.is 
     
     
        .Iaddend..[.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.[.,.]. .Iadd.or .Iaddend.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 pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 1 which is a surgical drape..Iaddend. .Iadd.28. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 1 which is an adhesive dressing..Iaddend. .Iadd.29. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 12 which is a medical dressing..Iaddend. .Iadd.30. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 12 which is a surgical dressing..Iaddend. .Iadd.31. A pressure-sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 12 which is a surgical 
     
     
        drape..Iaddend. .Iadd.32.  A pressure-sensitive adhesive as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adhesive is a polyvinyl ethyl ether..Iaddend. .Iadd.33. A pressure-sensitive adhesive as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adhesive is an acrylic ester copolymer containing hydrophilic groups..Iaddend. .Iadd.34. A pressure sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 16 which is a wound dressing or surgical drape..Iaddend. .Iadd.35. A pressure sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 12 wherein the adhesive is an acrylic polymer..Iaddend. .Iadd.36. A pressure sensitive adhesive material as claimed in claim 12 wherein the adhesive is an acrylic ester copolymer containing hydrophilic groups..Iaddend.