Self centering buff pad with low temperature tuft bonding thermoplastic adhesive

Claim 2

A buff comprising a flexible backing and a multiplicity of tufts including absorbed water, said tufts having central portions engaged in said backing and distal end portions projecting from one side of said backing, said backing comprising a thermoplastic adhesive having a softening and bonding temperature of less than 100 degrees Centigrade that has been softened and securely bonded to the central portions of said tufts in said backing at a temperature of less than 100 degrees Centigrade thereby restricting the release of water vapors from the tufts during such bonding, which water vapors could interfere with the bond between the thermoplastic adhesive and the tufts.

Claim 3

A buff according to claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic adhesive is an ethylene acrylic acid copolymer.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 3 wherein the thermoplastic adhesive is an ethylene acrylic acid copolymer.

Claim 7

A method for forming a buff according to claim 3 wherein there is further provided a loop-fabric layer having a multiplicity of loops projecting from one surface, a layer of thermoplastic adhesive which softens and adheres at a temperature below about 155 degrees Centigrade on the side of the loop-fabric layer opposite the loops, and a layer of polymeric material that will soften and become conformable and will be adhered to by the softened layer of adhesive at a temperature below about 155 degrees Centigrade; the layer of thermoplastic adhesive which softens and adheres at a temperature below about 100 degrees centigrade is positioned on the side of the layer of polymeric material opposite the layer of adhesive that softens and adheres at a temperature below about 155 degrees Centigrade, the heating step includes the step of pressing the layers against a platen heated to a temperature under about 155 degrees Centigrade for a time that will soften the layers of adhesive and the layer of polymeric material and adhere the softened adhesives to the layer of polymeric material, the loop-fabric and base-fabric layers and the central portions of the tufts; and the method further includes the steps of forming the heated layers to provide a backing having a generally planar circular central portions and an annular flange integral and coaxial with the central portion projecting from the side surface of the central portion on which the loop-fabric is positioned with the tufts projecting from the opposite side of the backing; and allowing the formed buff to cool.