Methods and compositions for ink jet printing of pressure sensitive adhesive patterns or films on a wide range of substrates

A method of making a composition that forms a pressure sensitive adhesive upon curing, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a curable, fluid pressure sensitive adhesive precursor comprising a first, relatively polar constituent and a second, relatively nonpolar constituent, wherein at least one of said constituents is radiation curable;
• and
• (b) providing a rheology modifying agent comprising surface-treated, nanometer-sized, inorganic oxide particles comprising relatively polar and nonpolar surface portions in relative amounts such that the rheology modifying agent is marginally compatible with the curable, fluid pressure sensitive adhesive precursor;
• and
• (c) incorporating a rheology modifying amount of the agent into the precursor.

A method of forming a pressure sensitive adhesive composition on a substrate, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a curable, fluid composition that forms a pressure sensitive adhesive upon curing comprising:
• (i) a curable, fluid pressure sensitive adhesive precurscor comprising a first, relatively polar constituent and a second, relatively nonpolar constituent, wherein at least one of the first and second constituents is radiation curable;
• and
• ii) a rheology modifying agent comprising surface-treated, nanometer-sized inorganic oxide particles comprising relatively polar and nonpolar surface portions in relative amounts effective to render the rheology modifying agent marginally compatible with the fluid pressure sensitive adhesive precursor;
• (b) ink jet printing the composition onto at least a portion of the substrate;
• and
• (c) curing the composition under conditions effective to form the pressure sensitive adhesive.

A method of forming a pressure sensitive adhesive composition on a substrate, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a rheology-modified, curable, fluid composition that forms a pressure sensitive adhesive upon curing, comprising:
• (i) a curable fluid that forms a pressure sensitive adhesive upon curing;
• (ii) at least a thickening amount or a rheology modifying agent comprising surface-treated, nanometer-sized inorganic oxide particles comprising relatively polar and nonpolar surface portions in relative amounts effective to render the rheology modifying agent marginally compatible with the curable fluid;
• (b) ink jet printing the composition onto at least a portion of the substrate;
• and
• (c) curing the composition under conditions effective to form the pressure sensitive adhesive.

A method of forming a pressure sensitive adhesive composition on a substrate, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a curable, fluid composition that forms a pressure sensitive adhesive upon curing;
• (b) ink jet printing the composition onto at least a portion of the substrate;
• and
• (c) curing the composition under conditions effective to form the pressure sensitive adhesive,
• wherein the curable composition comprises reversible characteristics in which the curable, fluid composition exists as a thickened composition in a first state and as a fluid in a second state;
• and
• wherein the substrate comprises a micro-mechanical device.