Method for imparting elastic properties to a flexible substrate

Claim 1

A method for imparting elastic properties to a flexible substrate, which comprises contacting a surface of the flexible substrate with a band of a self-adhering elastic composition which consists essentially of: a major amount by weight, not exceeding 70% by weight, of a rubbery block copolymer, which copolymer includes a rubbery midblock portion and which is terminated with vinyl arene endblocks, about 70 to 80% by weight of said rubbery block copolymer comprising said rubbery midblock portion and about 20 to about 30% by weight of said rubbery block copolymer comprising said vinyl arene endblock; a minor amount by weight, not less than 30% by weight, of a tackifying resin generally compatible with and generally associated with said midblock portion; - 9% by weight of an aromatic, essentially hydrocarbon resin having a glass transition temperature and a softening point above those of said vinyl arene endblocks and said tackifying resin; said aromatic, essentially hydrocarbon resin being generally compatible with and generally associated with said endblock; and 0-5% by weight of essentially inert extenders, fillers, pigments, and antioxidants that do not substantially affect the adhesive of elastic properties of the composition; the foregoing proportions being selected to provide the following pressure-sensitive adhesive and rheological properties: (i) a tensile strength at 500% elongation, determined at 20°-25° C., of at least 50 pounds per square inch; (ii) a 180° peel resistance, according to PSTC-1, determined at 20°-25° C. for 24 hours after formation of the pressure-sensitive adhesive bond, of at least about 450 grams per 25.4 millimeter-width; (iii) a dead load deformation, tested at room temperature, 37.8° C., 43.3° C., and 48.9° C. for 3 hours under 1500 g/cm 2 , of less than 50%, where dead load deformation is equal to the increased length minus the original length divided by the original length of a sample at least 25 millimeters in length, and a loss modulus, a storage, modulus, and a loss tangent measured at 0.01-0.25 Hz throughout the temperature range of 25°-50° C. as follows: loss modulus: 4×10 4 to 35×10 4 dynes/cm 2 storage modulus: 75×10 4 to 200×10 4 dynes/cm 2 loss tangent: 0.03 to 0.3.

Claim 2

A method for imparting elastic properties to a flexible substrate, which comprises contacting a surface of the flexible substrate with a band of a self-adhering elastic composition which consists essentially of: a major amount by weight, not exceeding 70% by weight, of a rubbery block copolymer, which copolymer includes a rubbery midblock portion and which is terminated with vinyl arene endblocks, about 70 to 80% by weight of said rubbery block copolymer comprising said rubbery midblock portion and about 20 to about 30% by weight of said rubbery block copolymer comprising said vinyl arene endblock; a minor amount by weight, not less than 30% by weight, of a tackifying resin generally compatible with and generally associated with said midblock portion; - 9% by weight of an aromatic, essentially hydrocarbon resin having a glass transition temperature and a softening point above those of said vinyl arene endblocks and said tackifying resin; said aromatic, essentially hydrocarbon resin being generally compatible with and generally associated with said endblock; and 0-5% by weight of essentially inert extenders, fillers, pigments, and antioxidants that do not substantially affect the adhesive of elastic properties of the composition; the foregoing proportions being selected to provide the following pressure-sensitive adhesive and rheological properties: (i) a tensile strength at 500% elongation, determined at 20°-25° C., of at least 50 pounds per square inch; (ii) a 180° peel resistance, according to PSTC-1, determined at 20°-25° C. for 24 hours after formation of the pressure-sensitive adhesive bond, of at least about 450 grams per 25.4 millimeter-width; (iii) a dead load deformation, tested at room temperature, 37.8° C., 43.3° C., and 48.9° C. for 3 hours under 1500 g/cm 2 , of less than 50%, where dead load deformation is equal to the increased length minus the original length divided by the original length of a sample at least 25 millimeters in length, and a loss modulus, a storage, modulus, and a loss tangent measured at 0.01-0.25 Hz throughout the temperature range of 25°-50° C. as follows: loss modulus: 4×10 4 to 35×10 4 dynes/cm 2 storage modulus: 75×10 4 to 200×10 4 dynes/cm 2 loss tangent: 0.03 to 0.3.

Claim 16

A method for imparting a self-adhering elastic to a flexible substrate comprising the steps of: (a) unreeling a band of self-adhering elastic composition from a roll, said roll being maintained at a temperature below the softening point of said self-adhering elastic and said band of self-adhering elastic being an extrudate at least 50 microns in thickness which consists essentially of (i) a block copolymer comprising at least one substantially amorphous, rubbery polymeric midblock and at least two glassy poly(vinylarene) endblocks; (ii) 30-115 parts per hundred of a midblock associating resin; and (iii) 3-20 parts per hundred of an aromatic, essentially hydrocarbon endblock associating resin having a Tg and a softening point above 115° C. each per one hundred parts of the block copolymer; wherein the proportions (i), (ii), and (iii) are selected to provide the following properties: (i) a tensile strength at 500% elongation, determined at 20°-25° C., of at least 50 pounds per square inch; (ii) a 180° peel resistance, according to PSTC-1, determined at 20°-25° C. 24 hours after formation of the pressure-sensitive adhesive bond, of at least about 450 grams per 25.4 mm-width; (iii) a dead load deformation, tested at 37.8° C. and 1500 g/cm 2 , less than 50%; and (iv) a loss modulus of 5×10 4 to 100×10 4 dynes/cm 2 , a storage modulus of 65×10 4 to 225×10 4 dynes/cm 2 , and a loss tangent of 0.3 to 1.0, at 0.01-0.25 Hz at 25°-50° C.; (b) contacting the band of self-adhering elastic with a surface of a flexible substrate forming a bond between the substrate and elastic.

Claim 17

A method for imparting a self-adhering elastic to a flexible substrate comprising the steps of: (a) unreeling a band of self-adhering elastic composition from a roll, said roll being maintained at a temperature below the softening point of said self-adhering elastic and said band of self-adhering elastic being an extrudate at least 50 microns in thickness which consists essentially of (i) a block copolymer comprising at least one substantially amorphous, rubbery polymeric midblock and at least two glassy poly(vinylarene) endblocks; (ii) 30-115 parts per hundred of a midblock associating resin; and (iii) 3-20 parts per hundred of an aromatic, essentially hydrocarbon endblock associating resin having a Tg and a softening point above 115° C. each per one hundred parts of the block copolymer; wherein the proportions (i), (ii), and (iii) are selected to provide the following properties: (i) a tensile strength at 500% elongation, determined at 20°-25° C., of at least 50 pounds per square inch; (ii) a 180° peel resistance, according to PSTC-1, determined at 20°-25° C. 24 hours after formation of the pressure-sensitive adhesive bond, of at least about 450 grams per 25.4 mm-width; (iii) a dead load deformation, tested at 37.8° C. and 1500 g/cm 2 , less than 50%; and (iv) a loss modulus of 5×10 4 to 100×10 4 dynes/cm 2 , a storage modulus of 65×10 4 to 225×10 4 dynes/cm 2 , and a loss tangent of 0.3 to 1.0, at 0.01-0.25 Hz at 25°-50° C.; (b) contacting the band of self-adhering elastic with a surface of a flexible substrate forming a bond between the substrate and elastic.