Structured paper release liner, adhesive-backed article assembly and method of making same

A structured paper release liner for use with an article backed with a pressure sensitive adhesive, said liner comprising:

• a piece of paper comprising fibers and having a release side free of a structural support layer, a back side, and a structured release surface having a pattern formed into, so as to deform the fibers of, said paper on said release side;
• and
• a release material bonded to said structured release surface of said paper,
• wherein said release material does not form a structural support layer,
• wherein a structural support layer is a continuous plastic layer that is capable of having a structured pattern plastically formed therein, where the pattern is either completely contained within the layer of plastic or the plastic layer is thin enough that the pattern is at least partially formed in the paper core as well as the layer of plastic, and the layer of plastic could be separated from, or produced separately from, the paper core in one piece, and
• wherein the pattern formed in said paper is dimensioned so as to form fluid egress channels in a bonding surface of the pressure sensitive adhesive, when the pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to said structured release surface or said structured release surface is forced into the bonding surface of the pressure sensitive adhesive, such that the fluid egress channels define a structured bonding surface having exit pathways for at least some of the fluid to bleed out from behind the article when the article is adhered to a substrate.

A method of making a structured paper release liner, for use with an article backed with a pressure sensitive adhesive, said method comprising:

• providing a piece of paper comprising fibers and having a release side free of a structural support layer and a back side;
• forming a pattern in the paper on the release side so as to deform the fibers and produce a structured release surface on the release side, the pattern formed in the paper being operatively adapted so as to form fluid egress channels in a bonding surface of the pressure sensitive adhesive, when the pattern and the bonding surface are brought together, such that the fluid egress channels define a structured bonding surface having exit pathways for fluid to bleed out from behind the article when the article is adhered to a substrate;
• and
• providing a release material on the release side of the paper, either before or after forming of the structured release surface,
• wherein the release material does not forming a structural support layer, and
• wherein a structural support layer is a continuous plastic layer that is capable of having a structured pattern plastically formed therein, where the pattern is either completely contained within the layer of plastic or the plastic layer is thin enough that the pattern is at least partially formed in the paper core as well as the layer of plastic, and the layer of plastic could be separated from, or produced separately from, the paper core in one piece.