Temperature-activated adhesive assemblies
AssigneeLandec Corporation
InventorRay F. Stewart
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Temperature-activated adhesive compositions formulated with crystallizable polymers are provided. The compositions, which display a rapid transition from the tacky to the nontacky state, and/or from the nontacky to the tacky state, are useful in medical applications, where adhesion of a substrate to the skin is desired, as well as in a variety of nonmedical applications. Temperature-activated adhesive assemblies such as tapes, labels, and the like for use in a number of contexts are provided which assemblies have a moisture vapor transmission rate which is compatible with human skin, e.g., above 500 g/m.sup.2 /day at 37.degree. C. and a 100% to 10% relative humidity difference.
Claims29
A temperature-sensitive adhesive assembly which comprises
- (1) a body member:
- (2) secured to the body member, a layer of a polymeric composition which
- (a) comprises 40 to 100% by weight of at least one crystalline polymer which (i) begins to melt at a temperature T.sub.0, where T.sub.0 is 5.degree. to 50.degree. C., (ii) completes melting at a peak melting temperature T.sub.m which is at most (T.sub.0 +15).degree. C., and (iii) is a side-chain crystallizable polymer which has a heat of fusion of at least 20 Joules/g and contains at least 50% by weight of repeating units of the formula ##STR3## wherein M is an atom forming part of the backbone of the polymer
- S is a spacer unit, and
- C is a crystallizable group,
- (b) has an ASTM D2979 tack value of less than 25 g.cm/sec at a temperature below T.sub.0, and
- (c) has an ASTM D2979 tack value of at least about 100 g.cm/sec over a range of temperatures above T.sub.m ;
- said assembly having one or more of the following characteristics I to VI:
- I. the layer of polymeric composition has a thickness of at least 0.001 inch:
- II. the crystalline polymer contains units derived from at least two monomers;
- III. the crystalline polymer has been crosslinked:
- IV. the polymeric composition comprises at least two polymers;
- V. the body member is a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, paper, wood, metal, glass, a medical immobilization device, an electrode, a surgical dressing, or a transdermal drug delivery patch;
- and
- VI. the assembly further comprises
- (3) a release layer which covers the surface of the polymeric composition remote from the body member.
A temperature-sensitive adhesive assembly which comprises
- (1) a body member;
- (2) secured to the body member, a layer of a polymeric composition which
- (a) comprises 40 to 100% by weight of at least one crystalline polymer which (i) begins to melt at a temperature T.sub.0, where T.sub.0 is 5.degree. to 50.degree. C., (ii) completes melting at a peak melting temperature T.sub.m which is at most (T.sub.0 +15).degree. C., and (iii) is polytetrahydrofuran,
- (b) has an ASTM D2979 tack value of less than 25 g.cm/sec at a temperature below T.sub.0, and
- (c) has an ASTM D2979 tack value of at least about 100 g.cm/sec over a range of temperatures above T.sub.m.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.