# US 6,296,914 B1 · Flushable release liners and methods of making the same

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- Number: US 6,296,914 B1
- Document ID: US6296914B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/396,697
- Filed: 1999-09-15
- Granted: 2001-10-02
- Earliest claimed: 1997-11-25
- Assignees: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
- Inventors: John E. Kerins; Yihua Chang; William S. Pomplun
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6296914B1

## CPC

- A61L 15/62: {Compostable,} hydrosoluble or hydrodegradable materials
- C08J 7/0427: {with only one layer of a composition containing a polymer binder (with more layers C08J7/042)}
- C08J 7/043: Improving the adhesiveness of the coatings per se, e.g. forming primers (adhesives in the form of films or foils characterised by the primer layers between the polymer carriers and the adhesives C09J7/50)
- C08J 2300/14: Water soluble or water swellable polymers, e.g. aqueous gels
- C08J 2423/00: Characterised by the use of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Derivatives of such polymers
- C08J 2427/00: Characterised by the use of homopolymers or copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, each having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond, and at least one being terminated by a halogen; Derivatives of such polymers
- C08J 2483/00: Characterised by the use of macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming in the main chain of the macromolecule a linkage containing silicon with or without sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon only; Derivatives of such polymers
- Y10T 428/14: Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
- Y10T 428/1476: Release layer
- Y10T 428/264: Up to 3 mils
- Y10T 428/2839: with release or antistick coating
- Y10T 428/2913: Rod, strand, filament or fiber
- Y10T 428/3154: Of fluorinated addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
- Y10T 428/31544: Addition polymer is perhalogenated
- Y10T 428/31663: As siloxane, silicone or silane
- Y10T 428/31855: Of addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
- Y10T 428/31913: Monoolefin polymer
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- 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)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The present invention is directed to a flushable water-sensitive film, which maintains its integrity and strength when in use, but disperses when place in contact with water, such as in a conventional sink or toilet. Moreover, the present invention is directed to a flushable release liner, which performs like conventional release papers, but adds the convenience of disposal by flushing in a sink or toilet. The present invention is also directed to products, which contain a flushable water-sensitive film or release liner.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A flushable water-sensitive film having release characteristics, said flushable water-sensitive film comprising:
a two layer polymer film, wherein the two layer polymer film comprises:
a first polymer film layer comprising a water-sensitive film; and
a second polymer film layer comprising a substantially discontinuous coating of polymeric material on a surface of the water-sensitive film, wherein the coating adheres to the water-sensitive film and provides release characteristics to the water-sensitive film.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The flushable water-sensitive film of claim 1, wherein the water-sensitive film comprises polyethylene oxide, ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymers, polymethacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid copolymers, polyvinyl alcohol, poly(2-ethyl oxazoline), polyvinyl methyl ether, polyvinyl pyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymers, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl ether starch, poly (n-isopropyl acrylamide), poly N-vinyl caprolactam, polyvinyl methyl oxazolidone, poly (2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline), poly (2,4-dimethyl-6-triazinyl ethylene) or a combination thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The flushable water-sensitive film of claim 2, wherein the water-sensitive film comprises polyethylene oxide, ethylene oxide-propylene oxide, polyvinyl alcohol or a combination thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The flushable water-sensitive film of claim 1, wherein the polymeric material comprises a polyolefin, a fluoropolymer, a silicone or a combination thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The flushable water-sensitive film of claim 4, wherein the coating further comprises at least one low molecular weight, highly branched polyolefin.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The flushable water-sensitive film of claim 5, wherein the at least one low molecular weight, highly branched polyolefin has a number-average molecular weight of less than about 2800.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The flushable water-sensitive film of claim 3, wherein the water-sensitive film comprises polyethylene oxide.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The flushable water-sensitive film of claim 1, wherein the substantially discontinuous coating comprises interengaged shapes of polymeric material having an average spacing between the shapes.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The flushable water-sensitive film of claim 7, wherein the water sensitive film is a flushable release liner.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The flushable water-sensitive film of claim 1, wherein the water-sensitive film has a thickness of less than about 2.0 mil (50.4 micrometers) and the coating has a thickness of less than about 1.2 mil (30.5 micrometers).

### Claim 11

A flushable release liner comprising:
a two layer polymer film, wherein the two layer polymer film comprises:
a first polymer film layer comprising a water-sensitive film; and
a second polymer film layer comprising a substantially discontinuous coating of polymeric material on a surface of the water-sensitive film, wherein the coating adheres to the water-sensitive film and provides release characteristics to the liner.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The flushable release liner of claim 11 , wherein the water-sensitive film comprises polyethylene oxide, ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymers, polymethacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid copolymers, polyvinyl alcohol, poly (2-ethyl oxazoline), polyvinyl methyl ether, polyvinyl pyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymers, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl ether starch, poly (n-isopropyl acrylamide), poly N-vinyl caprolactam, polyvinyl methyl oxazolidone, poly (2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline), poly (2,4-dimethyl-6-triazinyl ethylene) or a combination therof.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The flushable release liner of claim 12, wherein the water-sensitive film comprises polyethylene oxide, ethylene oxide-propylene oxide, polyvinyl alcohol or a combination thereof.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The flushable release liner of claim 11, wherein the polymeric material comprises a polyolefin, a fluoropolymer, a silicone or a combination thereof.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The flushable release liner of claim 14, wherein the coating further comprises at least one low molecular weight, highly branched polyolefin.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The flushable release liner of claim 15, wherein the at least one low molecular weight, highly branched polyolefin has a number-average molecular weight of less than about 2800.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The flushable release liner of claim 13, wherein the water-sensitive film comprises polyethylene oxide.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The flushable water-sensitive film of claim 11, wherein the substantially discontinuous coating comprises interengaged shapes of polymeric material having an average spacing between the shapes.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The flushable release liner of claim 11, wherein the water-sensitive film has a thickness of less than about 2.0 mil (50.4 micrometers) and the coating has a thickness of less than about 1.2 mil (30.5 micrometers).