# US 11,306,431 B2 · Articles including microcapsules for on-demand adhesion and methods of making same

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- Number: US 11,306,431 B2
- Document ID: US11306431B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/100,655
- Filed: 2014-11-24
- Published: 2016-10-20
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-13
- Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company
- Applicants: 3M Innovative Properties Company
- Inventors: Joseph D. Rule; Mary M. Caruso Dailey; Anne N. De Rovere; Lili Qie
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306431B2

## CPC

- D06M 23/12: Processes in which the treating agent is incorporated in microcapsules (making microcapsules B01J13/02)
- B01J 13/16: Interfacial polymerisation
- C08J 9/365: {Coating}
- C09D 133/02: Homopolymers or copolymers of acids; Metal or ammonium salts thereof
- C08J 2375/04: Polyurethanes
- C08K 9/10: Encapsulated ingredients
- C08K 2201/013: Additives applied to the surface of polymers or polymer particles
- D06M: TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29)
- C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D)
- C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09)

## Abstract

Articles are provided, including a substrate having a first major surface, the substrate including a nonwoven material, a woven material, or a foam. The article further includes microcapsules having an outer surface and a plasticizer encapsulated in the microcapsules, where the plurality of microcapsules is attached to the first major surface of the substrate with a polymeric material. A method of making an article is also provided, including providing a substrate having a first major surface and providing microcapsules having an outer surface and a plasticizer encapsulated in the microcapsules. The method further includes attaching the microcapsules to the first major surface of the substrate with a polymeric material, thereby forming a polymeric matrix attached to the first major surface of the substrate.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An article comprising:
a substrate having a first major surface, the substrate comprising a nonwoven material, a woven material, or a foam, wherein the substrate has a compressive strength of from 50 Pascals (Pa) to 20,000 Pa at 10% compression; and
a plurality of microcapsules comprising an outer surface and a plasticizer encapsulated in the microcapsules, the plurality of microcapsules attached to the first major surface of the substrate with a polymeric material layer, wherein a ratio of an average diameter of the plurality of microcapsules to an average coating thickness of the polymeric material layer on the substrate is 1.3 to 10;
wherein the plurality of microcapsules further comprises a coating of the polymeric material on at least a portion of the outer surface of each microcapsule located above the upper surface of the polymeric material layer on the surface of the substrate; and
wherein the polymeric material has a glass transition temperature (T g) greater than 0° C.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises glass fibers, silica fibers, basalt fibers, polyamide fibers, polyolefin fibers, acrylic fibers, polyester fibers, cellulose fibers, wool fibers, rayon fibers, carbon fibers, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a polymeric foam comprising a polyolefin, a polyurethane, a poly(meth)acrylate, or neoprene.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a sponge, a cushion, or insulation.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microcapsules has an average microcapsule diameter of from 50 micrometers to 500 micrometers.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microcapsules comprises shells comprising polyurea formaldehyde, cellulosic materials, copolymers of isobornyl methacrylate with (meth)acrylic acid, nylon, polyurethane, polyurea, polycarbonate, or polymers formed from urea, formaldehyde and melamine monomers.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1, wherein the plasticizer comprises a phosphate ester, a benzoyl functionalized polyether, a polyalkylene oxide, an alkyl or aryl functionalized polyalkylene oxide, a monomethyl ether of polyethylene oxide, a monomeric adipate, a polymeric adipate, a citrate, a glutarate, a trimellitate, a sebacate, a polyester, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microcapsules further comprises a solvent encapsulated in the microcapsules comprising a hydrocarbon, an aromatic hydrocarbon, a halogenated hydrocarbon, a halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon, a substituted aromatic solvent, a ketone, an ester, an amide, a nitrile, a sulfoxide, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the average diameter of the plurality of microcapsules to the average coating thickness of the polymeric material on the substrate is 2 to 6.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises an average of from 4% to 25% area coverage on the first major surface by the plurality of microcapsules.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises an average coating weight of dry polymeric material of from 10 to 100 grams per square meter of the covered area of the substrate.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a density of from 0.01 grams per milliliter (g/mL) to 0.75 g/mL.

### Claim 13

A method of making an article comprising:
providing a substrate having a first major surface, the substrate comprising a nonwoven material, a woven material, or a foam, wherein the substrate has a compressive strength of from 50 Pa to 20,000 Pa at 10% compression;
providing a plurality of microcapsules comprising an outer surface and a plasticizer encapsulated in the microcapsules; and
attaching the plurality of microcapsules to the first major surface of the substrate with a polymeric material layer, thereby forming a polymeric matrix attached to the first major surface of the substrate;
wherein a ratio of an average diameter of the plurality of microcapsules to an average coating thickness of the polymeric material layer on the substrate is 1.3 to 10;
wherein the plurality of microcapsules further comprises a coating of the polymeric material on at least a portion of the outer surface of each microcapsule located above the upper surface of the polymeric material layer on the surface of the substrate; and
wherein the polymeric material comprises a glass transition temperature (Tg) greater than 0° C.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the attaching comprises depositing the plurality of microcapsules on the first major surface of the substrate and coating the polymeric material onto a majority of the plurality of microcapsules and at least a portion of the first major surface of the substrate.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising curing the polymeric material.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the substrate comprises glass fibers, polyamide fibers, polyolefin fibers, acrylic fibers, polyester fibers, cellulose fibers, wool fibers, rayon fibers, carbon fibers, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of microcapsules further comprises a solvent encapsulated in the microcapsules.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microcapsules are completely coated by the polymeric material on the outer surface of each microcapsule.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microcapsules comprises a coating of the polymeric material on the top of the outer surface of each microcapsule.