Hot-melt processable release material, method of preparation, and articles therefrom

A hot-melt processable release material prepared according to an essentially solventless process comprising the steps of:

• providing reactants, wherein the reactants comprise:
• at least one backbone polymer having a grafting site that is reactive with a release component to selectively form a release moiety substituent at the grafting site;
• and
• greater than 20 weight %, based on total weight of the reactants, of a release component that is reactive with the grafting site, wherein the grafting site comprises a hydroxyl group;
• mixing the reactants in the reactor;
• allowing the reactants to react as described to form the release material;
• and
• removing the release material from the reactor.

A hot-melt processable release material comprising a polymer prepared according to an essentially solventless process comprising the steps of:

• providing reactants, wherein at least one of the reactants comprises at least one hydroxyl group, to a reactor, wherein the reactants comprise:
• at least one backbone polymer having a grafting site that is reactive with a release component to selectively form a release moiety substituent at the grafting site;
• and
• greater than 20 weight %, based on total weight of the reactants, of a release component that is reactive with the grafting site,
• wherein the polymer comprises polymeric units represented by those in formula:
• ##STR4## wherein:
• R.sup.1 is independently selected from the group consisting of H and an aliphatic group;
• R.sup.2 is independently selected from the group consisting of a functional group and an organic group having a terminal functional group;
• R.sup.3 is independently an organic group having a urethane linkage to the backbone polymer and a terminal alkyl group;
• and
• x, y, and z represent mole fractions of the individual polymeric units;
• mixing the reactants in the reactor;
• allowing the reactants to react as described to form the release material;
• and
• removing the release material from the reactor.