FR2645473A1 - APPLICATION TAPE AND TRANSFER ARTICLE COMPRISING SUCH A RIBBON - Google Patents

Abstract

The application tape is characterized in that it is conformable, thermally stable and permeable and in that it comprises: a) a support 12 having an inner main surface 14 and an outer main surface 13 and; b) a layer of adhesive substance 16 disposed on the main interior surface 14 of the support 12. The transfer article is characterized in that it comprises: a) an application tape 11, conformable, thermally stable and permeable, this application tape comprising a support 12, having an inner main surface 14 and an outer main surface 13, and a layer of adhesive substance 16 disposed on the inner main surface of this backing 12, and b) a transfer 40 disposed on the surface interior of the adhesive substance layer 16, this transfer 40 comprising a graphic layer 44 and a layer of adhesive substance 48. Application to the decoration of motor vehicle bodies.

Description

Application tape and transfer article comprising such tape

  The present invention relates to permeable application ribbons for applying transfer articles to desired substrates and also to application transfer articles comprising such application ribbons. It is well known to use adhesive tapes as means of application for depositing films or graphic patterns, i.e. transfers, onto desired substrates or surfaces. These tapes commonly include supports made of materials such as paper or polymeric films, for example polyester, and having on one of their main surfaces an adhesive layer which has the desired properties of sticking or adhering. Usually, it is desired that the adhesive substance form a bond which is more energetic on the support than on the transfer that is applied, which means that it adheres preferentially to this support. When used, the application tape, comprising the transfer adhering on its adhesive layer, is applied to a desired substrate and is adhesively bonded to it, for example by polishing or by activating an adhesive substance of joining. Once the transfer is secured to the substrate, the application tape is removed by applying a peel force, substantially all the adhesive material still remaining intact on the tape, so as to leave the transfer on the substrate . When a transfer is to be applied to a painted surface, for example to a motor vehicle body part, this surface may be painted, then the paint may be dried or cured before the transfer is applied to it, or the transfer can be applied to the painted surface before the paint has fully cured. In some cases, it may be desired to apply the transfer and the application tape to a surface having a layer of paint thereon, and then to apply another layer of paint, for example a second color, to the paint surface. body element, for example in the case ob different parts of the bodywork element must be of a different color. In some cases, for example when the transfer is a band, different colors can be applied to the substrate on either side of the transfer. FIG. 1 shows an application tape 110 of the prior art which comprises a support 112 having an adherent substance 116 on its inner surface 114. A primer layer 115 improves adhesion between the adhesive substance 116 and the inner surface 114 of the support 112. This application tape 110 is used to apply a graphical transfer article 40 to a substrate 52. The graphical transfer article 40 is of a desired decorative shape, for example a strip, and in this case it comprises a base film 42, a pattern or image 44, a transparent coating 46 and an adhesive substance 48 which fixes this transfer 40 on the substrate 52. The latter consists of a panel metal 56 on which a primer layer 57 and a first paint ply 58 have been applied and have usually been partially cured before the transfer 40 is applied thereto. Once this transfer 40 is applied to the substrate 52, a paint 54, for example, typically spraying, can be applied to the exposed portions of the substrate 52. If the paint 54 54 is to be applied only on one side of the transfer 40, it is then expected, before the application of this paint 54, to stick on the support 112 a mask 60 usually consisting of a sheet of material plastic or other screen material, this fastening being obtained by means of an adhesive tape 63 usually consisting of a support 64 and an adhesive substance 62 and intended to cover the part of the substrate 52, which must be maintained without paint 54. If the substrate 52 must have the same finishing and coloring paint applied to either side of the transfer 40, then the mask 60 is usually omitted. An important property of the application tape 110 is that the outer surface 113 of the support 112 has a certain affinity for the paint, so that whatever the paint may be it is deposited on it, sometimes called over-applied paint, it adnère. In this way, when the paint is dried or cured and the application tape 110 is then removed, the over-applied paint remains on the surface of the ribbon, which makes it easy to remove and ensures clean environment. If the paint fails to adhere sufficiently to the surface 113, it may tend to flake and fall freely when removing the ribbon

  110, which thereby produces dust particles which can contaminate the work area and damage the substrate 52 or other substrates which are painted in the same area. For this reason, the outer surface 113 of the application ribbons 110 having, for example, polyester supports 112, is usually coated with a primer layer 117 so as to improve the affinity of this surface. vis-à-vis the painting. Usually, application ribbons, more particularly those used in the automotive industry, are often made with polyester supports. Such supports are often used because normally they are very strong, which facilitates the removal of the application tape, they have smooth surfaces and a specular finish and they have a high resistance to solvents. However, these polyester supports have several important disadvantages, among them the fact that, normally, (1) they are slightly, or even notably, non-conformable, (2) they are subject, at least when they are with a monoaxial or biaxial orientation, with a winding or sliding when their temperature rises, for example during the curing or drying of the paint, which can in turn cause the transfer to fold or curl, and (3) they are virtually impervious to the vapors that emerge when drying and curing paints. It has been observed that, even in the case of a support film, which is stretched to a small extent, that is to say at no more than about 10%, during its manufacture, a carrier of polyester may tend to be relaxed and recover sufficiently from its initial state during curing of the paint to cause degradation of the transfer. On the other hand, polyester substrates should usually be coated with a primer to allow adhesion of the adhesive on them and provide a surface on which over-applied paint adnudes to prevent paint from forming. dust as described above. For example, it is possible to increase the affinity of certain polyester substrates vis-a-vis the paint by applying VITEL PE222, which is known to be available from GOODYEAR and which is believed to contain a polyester resin having hydroxyl radicals, while adhesion of certain adhesive substances to certain polyester substrates can be increased by applying polycarbodiamide-based compositions to the polyester. The need for such primers increases the cost price of 35 such application ribbons. Some transfer tapes are made with paper supports. These substrates usually have rough or undesirable surfaces, and the surfaces of the transfers applied to them tend to marry, especially when subjected to heat, which alters the appearance. wanted for the transfer. In addition, the paper supports are not usually sufficiently conformable to be used in the case of the application of transfers to substrates whose surfaces have multiple profiles or reliefs, for example automotive bodywork components. - bile such as wings. On the other hand, the paper supports consist of a web of many individual fibers which may have a tendency to separate from the support, thus producing dust, or the fibers on the edges of the support may remain stuck to the substrate. posteriorly applied paint, when removing the application tape. In addition, in some cases, the materials of the paper supports may be so porous that they allow the over-applied paint to penetrate to the surface of the transfer, thereby deteriorating the transfer surface. Finally, in order to ensure sufficient mechanical strength, the paper supports may have to be provided in the form of very thick realizations of a size such that they have edges whose importance is undesirable during the application. paint and this limits the ability of the application tape to melt the shapes. Many car manufacturers currently use melamine-acrylate curing paint systems. These paint compositions are usually cured between about 20 and about 30 minutes and at temperatures between about 130 ° C. and 150 ° C. During curing, the coatings formed from these paints normally produce formaldehyde, butanol, methanol and other vapors. When these vapors are produced in paint areas that are covered with an impermeable screen, such as an applicator tape, which prevents or prevents the gases from being vented, the vapors may tend to 'accumulate and form bubbles between

  different layers of the transfer and the application ribbon. In many cases, these bubbles can cause discontinuities or other defects in the appearance of the finished product. For example, in the case of transfers comprising urethane-based clear coatings, the bubbles usually tend to form at the interface between the clearcoat and the tape adhesive. of application, which commonly results in the formation of rings and halos of an unattractive appearance on the surface of the transparent coating. In the case of transfers which do not include such transparent coatings, bubbles may tend to form at the interface between the substrate and the adhesive substance of the transfer, resulting in a cloqueled appearance. and therefore undesirable on the estnetic plane. It is known that the conventional polyester supports of the commonly known application tapes are substantially impermeable, so that the transfers applied to them are aesthetically degraded. The present invention relates to an application tape, characterized in that it is permeable and preferably conformable and thermally stable and comprises a) a carrier having an inner major surface and an outer major surface and b) a layer of adhesive substance disposed on the inner major surface of the support. Such ribbons may be used to apply transfers, for example decorative patterns such as racing bands or other decorative designs, to desired substrates such as motor vehicle body elements. The application tapes according to the invention are of particular interest when used to apply transfers to surfaces which have been painted, but the paint is not yet fully cured, or when The paint coating must be applied to at least a portion of the surface of the substrate after application of the transfer thereon, this application of the paint coating to take place in an area contiguous to the transfer. According to the present invention, the application tape is substantially permeable so as to allow the vapors produced during the curing of an underlying or adjacent paint to pass therethrough. Thus, instead of being trapped and risk forming blisters or bubbles, or causing further aesthetically undesirable transfer degradation, the vapors are able to escape, so that the paint and transfer retain their aesthetic appearance. In many embodiments, it may be desirable for the application tape to be sufficiently translucent to allow the person using it to see the substrate and transfer through the ribbon, thereby facilitating proper alignment of the ribbon. transfer on the substrate. The subject of the present invention is also a transfer article, characterized in that it comprises a) a permeable and preferably conformable and thermally stable application tape, this application tape comprising a support having a surface inner main surface and an outer major surface, and an adhesive layer disposed on the inner major surface thereof, and b) a transfer disposed on the inner surface of the adhesive layer, which transfer comprises graphic layer and a layer of adhesive substance. Commonly, the transfer comprises a graphical color, which may be constituted by a pattern in one or more colors and which is optionally optionally coated with a transparent coating, and an underlying layer of adhesive substance which makes the transfer integral. of the desired substrate. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, by way of nonlimiting examples and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a part of a transfer article applied, using a prior art application tape, to a substrate on a part of which a layer of paint has been subsequently applied, FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view and section of an embodiment of an application ribbon according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a part of a transfer article, in accordance with the present invention. invention, which is constituted in part by another embodiment of an application ribbon according to the invention and FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a part of a transfer article which consists in part of an application ribbon, in accordance e to the present invention, which has been applied to a painted substrate on a part of which a layer of paint has been

  30 subsequently applied. These figures, which are simplified, are not to scale and are given for purely illustrative and not limiting. Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment, given as an illustration, of a portion 10 of an application tape according to the invention. This application tape 10 consists of a support 12 having an outer main surface 13 and an inner main surface 14. A layer of adhesive material 16 adheres to this inner surface 14. In some embodiments, a primer It can be used between the inner surface 14 and the adhesive layer 16 to improve the strength of the adhesive bond between them. If desired, an optional release liner 20 may cover the inner face 22 of the adhesive layer 16 to prevent it from being soiled. This release liner 20 is removed prior to adhering the application tape 10 to a transfer (not shown) to be applied to a substrate (not shown). The support is a permeable film and preferably conformable and thermally stable. Thus, an illustrative example of a suitable carrier is a polyvinyl chloride film, approximately 50 μm thick, whose permeability is such that approximately 1 atmosphere, it passes about 4.0 x 103 millimeters / meter2 of carbon dioxide through this support in a period of 24 hours. The optimum permeability of the support of an application ribbon according to the invention depends partly on the nature of the paints used and the vapors which emerge therefrom, as well as on the effective permeability of the other ribbon elements. application. Therefore, in some embodiments, the permeability of the support film should be slightly greater than the indicated value to give assurance that the vapors produced can actually be released, while in other embodiments acceptable performance is obtained with supports having a lower permeability. It would appear that another property that can be used to designate carriers suitable for application tapes in accordance with the invention is the coefficient of permeability which is a measure of the rate of passage of a determined gas through a pipe. film, namely the medium. This coefficient of permeability has the following dimensions: (amount of product passing through) (film thickness) (suface) (duration) (pressure drop across the film) When used here, the permeability coefficients have as unit the (cm3) (cm) / (cm2) (second) (cmHg), or alternatively, the equivalent (cm2) / (second) (cmHg) o cm represents the centimeter. It appears that an application tape made with a carrier having an oxygen permeability coefficient (O 2) of at least about 0.040 x 1010 is suitable for use as an application tape. according to the present invention. Preferably, the oxygen permeability coefficient is substantially greater, i.e., about 0.070 x 1010 or more. For example, the coefficient of permeability of a polyvinyl chloride film to oxygen is usually about 0.045 x 1010, while that of a terephthalate film of crystalline polyester is only about 0.035 x 1010, as indicated in the Polymers Manual, chapter 5 permeability coefficients, H. Yasuda and V. Stannett, pages III-237 and 240. The coefficient of permeability depends in part on the gas that acts as a through product. Thus, the permeability coefficient of a polyvinylchloride film with respect to methane (CH4) is about 0.029 x 1010, while that of a crystalline polyester terephthalate film is only about 0.0032 x 1010, as indicated in the Polymer Manual mentioned above. The permeability of a film can also be increased by providing multiple minute pores through this film, for example by perforating the laser film. In such cases, however, care should be taken that the pores are made small enough to prevent practically any over-applied paint from penetrating through the application tape and depositing on the transfer where it may alter the appearance of this last. The maximum pore size that can be used thus depends in part on the viscosity and flow characteristics of the paint. Normally, these pores have an average diameter of less than about 100 microns, preferably less than about 75 microns, and more preferably, less than about 50 microns. By "conformable" is meant that the carrier is sufficiently flexible and extensible to be shaped, preferably under a pressure

  manually, according to the profiles or reliefs of the substrate on which the application of a transfer is sounaite. However, the carrier should normally have sufficient dimensional stability to resist, without being deformed, simple handling, for example when rolled into a roll, cut to a size or shape. desired shape, that it is used to move a transfer, etc. It is particularly important that the application tape is conformable when it must be used to apply a transfer on a substrate having a profile surface or relief special, for example on the 35 bora of a motor vehicle body panel, for example around the wheel arch or a doorway. To be conformable, a support should have a tensile strength which is sufficiently small to be overcome by moderate force, so as to extend and conform the support in the desired profile or relief. Thus, a carrier of an application tape according to the invention preferably has a tensile strength of less than about 68.948 kPa, more preferably less than about 34.474 kPa, so that it can be conformed to the hand. By "thermally stable" is meant that, even if stretched during application, the support resists when heated to temperatures such as those used to cure the paint on the substrate. that is, normally, in the case of an application tape to be used on automobile components, at least about 120 ° C, and preferably at least about 150 ° C, for at least about 30 minutes, without substantially tending to be the object of a withdrawal, a winding or other modification of its shape. In this way, the support does not cause deterioration of the transfer when curing the paint. The application tape may, however, expand slightly as its temperature rises. In fact, it seems that if the application tape has thermal expansion properties similar to those of the transfer, this application tape and / or transfer is less likely to wrap or "burst" when their temperature rises during hardening. The carrier should also be resistant to degradation by any solvent or other material with which it is likely to come in contact, such as the vapors produced by the curing paint, the cleaning solvents, the solvents present in the composition of the paint, etc. The support should not undesirably lose its dimensional stability or its structural properties when exposed to the action of such materials, either at the temperature ambient, or at high temperatures. The support of the application coatings according to the invention normally has a thickness of between about 50 and about 75 gm, and normally preferably about 60 gm. If desired, application ribbons can be made with supports having thicknesses outside this range, but supports much thinner than this range may tend to provide too little strength to withstand manipulations and other constraints to which they may be subjected, and transfers that are applied with their assistance, while supports that are significantly thicker than the indicated range may tend to be too rigid and may be difficult to make them marry non-planar surfaces with the desired ease and degree. On the other hand, the permeability desired for certain materials constituting the support normally tends to decrease as the thickness of the support increases. A material which is preferred for use in supporting an application roll according to the invention is a polyvinyl chloride cast film which is porous. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 59-68,343 (Kakitani et al.) Discloses a method for making such films which can be used to form a carrier for an application tape according to the present invention. As taught herein, a porous film can be formed by dispersing in water a polyvinyl chloride resin having an average particle diameter of from about 10 to about 50 microns and melting it with a polyvinyl chloride. plasticizer, for example dioctyl phthalate, so as to form a film arranged on a carrier base. Polyvinyl chloride cast films are normally useful as carriers for application ribbons, since they tend to resist shrinkage, even when their temperature is high up to about 160 ° C. why application ribbons made with such media usually do not tend to

  The object is shrunk and curled during curing of the paint and thus does not cause degradation of the transfer. Another advantage of vinyl films is that they commonly have tensile strengths of about 22.063 to about 27.579 kPa and can therefore be shaped by manual pressure. For example, polyester films can commonly have tensile strengths of about 172,362 kPa and are therefore substantially less conformable. Illustrative examples of other less preferred materials which can be used for carriers of certain embodiments of application ribbons according to the invention include: permeable polyethylene or polypropylene of the type disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,539,256 (Shipman). If such films are used, they are preferably substantially unoriented, since oriented, i.e., stretched, films of such materials normally tend to shrink and recover substantially in their state. initially when their temperature rises during the process of hardening of the paint, which results in the application tape wraps or flakes and that eventually the transfer is also deformed. In some cases, oriented films can be used as carriers provided that their temperature is first raised, i.e. preheated, so that they recover their initial state prior to that the adhesive layer and the transfer are applied thereto. On the other hand, if an application tape having a carrier of such material is formed on a substrate which has a very pronounced or acute profile or relief, the support may be elongated sufficiently during application to be the object of a return to the initial state when its temperature rises while the paint is hardening. Normally, such preheating requires the film to be coated at temperatures equivalent to those expected to be exposed to the resulting application tape. Polyethylene films may be less preferable for some application tapes since they commonly tend to melt at temperatures of about 160 ° C, which are close to those at which some paints are cured and which an application tape is therefore likely to be submitted. Because of this temperature limitation, polyethylene substrates are normally used with paints, such as polyurethane paints which are known to cure at lower temperatures, ie from about 65 ° C. In addition, polyolefin films are also found to be normally less preferable, since such films must commonly be provided with a primer to achieve the adhesive bond and the affinity for With the paint desired, and as discussed below, it is normally preferred to avoid having to apply such a primer. It appears that we can use, as carriers, films of other materials having the properties here exposed. Thus, certain microporous membranes made for use in fluid filtration may be useful as a carrier in certain embodiments of application tapes according to the invention. Further, as indicated above, films, in certain materials such as polyester, which are otherwise substantially impermeable, can be rendered porous enough permeable for use in the present invention. These pores can be made using a laser once the film is made, or it can be made in such a way that the desired pores are formed during its manufacture. On the inner surface of the support there is disposed a layer of adhesive substance which is normally between about 8 and about 25 microns thick and preferably between about 9 and about 13 microns thick. If this layer of adhesive material is noticeably thinner, with values below the indicated ranges, although normally having a very high permeability, it may tend to provide insufficient adhesion to the graphic article and thus to lose its adhesion to the latter when manipulated or repositioned on the application surface. If the layer of adnissive substance is noticeably thicker, with values above the indicated ranges, it may tend to be less permeable and reduce the desired permeability of the application tape. The optimum thickness of the adhesive layer is determined in part by the adhesive characteristics and permeability of the adhesive substance used. It has been observed that, commonly, with layers of

  adhesive having thicknesses within the indicated range, the overall permeability of the application tape is determined substantially by the permeability of the support and the permeability of the adhesive substance is only secondary effect on this overall permeability of the application tape. The adhesive substance should form a layer which is permeable so as to allow the vapors produced during the curing of the paint to pass therethrough. If the adhesive substance is not sufficiently permeable, it is possible that during curing of the paint, Dulles tend to form between the adhesive layer and the transfer, thus prematurely separating the transfer from the tape. of application, or that bubbles may form inside the adhesive layer, which causes adhesion failure and tends to leave portions of the adhesive layer on the transfer when the application tape is removed. Accordingly, the adhesive substance can be applied in any way to provide a layer with the desired permeability. The adhesive substance should retain its desired properties even after being subjected to the conditions of the paint curing process, for example temperature, vapor exposure, etc., and other conditions, for example extreme temperatures and moisture changes during shipping and storage, etc., to which they are subject. The adhesive layer is preferably thermally resistant, since it should not tend to shrink when its temperature is high when curing the paint and that normally the strength of the connections it provides should not vary in a noticeable way when its temperature rises. It has been observed that by crosslinking the adhesive substance, the tendency of some adhesive layers to shrink as their temperature rises is reduced. The surface of the layer of adhesive substance that must be in contact with the transfer is preferably very smooth. Many transfers tend to soften when their temperature rises during the curing of the paint and they can deform by marrying the surface features corresponding to the extra thicknesses or hollow possibly existing in the adhesive substance of the application tape. Therefore, if the amount of adhesive material is very smooth, the transfer that is in contact with it is less likely to marry, from it, aesthetically undesirable surface features. The choice of the adhesive substance to be used in the adhesive layer of an application tape according to the invention depends in part on the nature and characteristics of the inner surface of the support and the surface of the transfer, and this in such a way that the adhesive substance provides the desired adhesion on one and the other. It is normally preferred that the adnissive substance adheres preferentially to the interior surface of the support, so as to provide assurance that when a peel force is applied to the application tape, substantially all of the adhesive substance is also entrained. with the support, leaving a clean transfer on the substrate. In order to obtain a desired resistance of the adhesive bond existing between the support and the adhesive layer, it may be necessary to package either the inner surface of the support or the outer surface of the adhesive layer. adhesive substance. This packaging may be a primer treatment such as a corona treatment, more particularly on the inner surface of the support, or it may consist of providing one or more separate layers of primer, for example of a suitable resin. If a separate layer of primer is needed, it must be highly permeable. This is why such layers are normally very thin, for example with values of about 2 microns or less. Primer treatments which do not reduce the permeability of the application tape are preferred. Thus it is known that a corona treatment leaves the permeability of the support essentially unchanged. FIG. 2 shows a primer layer 15 disposed between the support 12 and the adhesive layer 16. FIG. 3 shows a different embodiment of an application ribbon according to the invention with which one obtains without a separate primer layer, a suitable adhesion value between the inner surface 14 of the substrate 12 and the layer of adhesive substance 16. Many polyvinyl chloride films have the advantage

  to be normally highly compatible with many adhesive substances usable here, that is to say to form with them, without special primer treatments, bonds whose energetic character is desired. However, in some cases it may be desired to use a primer such as a thin VYHH, which is a vinyl acetate / vinyl chloride copolymer, or VAGH, which is a vinyl acetate / chloride copolymer. partially hydrolysed vinyl, both available from UNION CARBIOE COlPANY. Thus, in cases where the transfer does not have a transparent urethane coating, but instead has on its upper surface a vinyl-based film or ink, the adhesive substance located on the tape Application may tend to adhere to this transfer in a relatively more energetic manner than in cases where the transfer is coated with a clear urethane-based coating. Therefore, when making an application tape for use in the first cases, it may be desirable to apply a primer to the interior surface of a polyvinyl chloride support to increase the resistance of the adhesive bond existing between the layer of adhesive substance and this inner surface of the support. In addition to adhering preferentially to the backing, the adhesive material should provide sufficient backward bonding on the transfer to allow the application tape to be used to lift the transfer, for example with respect to a non-stick cover, and to retain this transfer as it is handled and applied to the substrate. If the adherent bond on the transfer is too weak, the latter may tend to slip on the application tape and thus be inaccurately positioned when applied to the substrate, or pleating or tearing while being handled. Normally, the adhesive substance is selected to provide an adherent bond on the intended transfers which is between about 0.8 and about 2.1 newtons / centimeter wide when measured with a velocity. about 4.7 centimeters per minute. If the adhesive bond provided by the adhesive substance has a value significantly less than this range, the application tape may be prematurely separated from the transfer, for example during handling or an intermediate step of preparing the article. If the adherent bond is significantly larger than the indicated range, removal of the application tape may tend to cause separation of the transfer from the substrate. As indicated above, the adhesive substance should preferentially adhere to the carrier, rather than the transfer. Therefore, in cases where the adhesive substance provides an adhesion-bonding strength on the transfer which is from about 0.8 to about 2.1 newtons / centimeter width under a peel rate of about 4, At a rate of 7 centimeters / minute, it is preferably provided that the adhesive material provides an adherent bond on the support of at least 2.6 newtons / centimeter width and preferably substantially more at the same peel rate. Similarly, the adhesive substance should provide an adherent bond on the transfer which is less than the strength of the bonding bond that the adhesive substance disposed on the underside of the transfer provides on the surface of the substrate or on the substrate. other part of the transfer. In cases where a mask is to be applied to the outer surface of the support, the strength of the adherent bonds provided by the adhesive layer of the application tape on the carrier of the latter and on the transfer has a value which preferably exceeds the strength of the adhesive bond of the mask on the support, so that this mask can be removed to allow the still intact application ribbon to remain on the transfer. Illustrative examples of adhesive substances which are useful in application ribbons according to the invention include acrylate-based adhesive substances. Thus, the composition of an illustrative example of an adhesive substance consists of 100 parts by weight of a solution of butyl acrylate / acrylic acid (weight ratio 98/2) at 25% solids, For example, in toluene or ethyl acetate, crosslinked with from about 1 to about 8 parts of a 5% by weight polyfunctional aziridine solution, for example in toluene or toluene. xylene, and that the composition of another illustrative example of the adhesive substance is 100 parts of a solution of ethylhexyl acrylate / acrylate.

  Ethyl acetate / acrylic acid (50/46/4 weight ratio) to 25% solids, for example in toluene or ethyl acetate, crosslinked with about 1 to about 8 parts by weight of a polyfunctional aziridine solution at 5% by weight, for example in toluene or xylene. Other illustrative examples of crosslinking agents include polyfunctional epoxides and aziridines, such as those described in US Pat. No. 4,288,493 (Kropp), and hexamethoxymethylmelamine as described in US Pat. No. 4,404,246. (Charbonneau and others). FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment 11 of an application tape according to the invention which comprises a support 12 and a layer of adhesive substance 16 which adheres to the inner surface 14 thereof without an intermediate layer of 'primer. This application tape 11 is applied to a transfer graphic article 40 which comprises a base film 42 (for example a 51 micron thick vinyl film, such as a SCOTCHCAL brand vinyl film from Minnesota Mining. and Manu facturing Company), an image 44, for example an image in printer ink, such as tapes or other decorative pattern, a transparent coating 46 and an adhesive substance 48 which is normally coated with a coating nonstick 50 optional. Normally, the image 44 is of a color or colors different from that or those of the base film 42. FIG. 4 shows an application ribbon 11 provided with a graphical transfer article 40 which is applied on a Painted substrate 52. This substrate 52 comprises a metal panel 56 on which a primer layer 57 and a paint layer 58 have been applied. A mask 60, normally made of a sheet of plastic or other material The screen is bonded with a tape of adhesive material 63, comprising for example a support 64 and an adhesive substance 62, on the outer surface 13 of the support 12 of an applicator ribbon. cation 11, so as to cover the portion of the substrate 52 which is free of paint 54. If the substrate 52 must have the same finishing paint and coloring applied on one side and the other of the transfer 40, then normally omitted the mask 60. A posterior application paint 54 is then applied to the portions of the substrate 52 that are exposed and overlaid on a portion of the outer surface 13 of the bare support 12. An important property of the application tape 11 is that the outer surface 13 of the support 12 affords a certain affinity for the paint, so that any over-applied paint deposited on it adheres thereto. Thus, when the paint is dried or cured and the application tape 11 is removed, the paint deposited on the bare surface of the ribbon remains on the support 12, which makes it easy to remove it and ensures a clean and dust-free environment. The above-mentioned polyvinyl rubber carriers have the advantage that their outer surfaces normally inherently have sufficient paint affinity, without special primer or treatment. These supports also have the advantage that characters such as legends providing information, for example element numbers or supply codes, or alignment markings can easily be printed on them. Normally, the application tapes according to the invention are made substantially translucent or transparent, in order to facilitate the alignment of the transfer on the substrate, sometimes in combination with the alignment markings indicated above. Normally, the adhesive layers of the application tapes according to the invention are sufficiently thin so that the optical characteristics of these tapes are substantially determined by the optical properties of the support. The support is therefore chosen taking into account the optical properties desired for the application ribbon. It may be desired to give a certain color to the support, for example to give it a hue, such as green, red, blue, etc., so as to make the application tape more easily identifiable. An increase of this locating possibility may be of interest to provide a means of easily verifying whether the application tape is still in place before a certain treatment of the substrate, for example the application of a paint subsequently applied. or after the final preparation of the substrate, to serve as a reminder that the application tape still needs to be removed. In some embodiments, however, the application tapes according to the invention are made in a substantially opaque form. Examples The invention will be described in more detail using the following illustrative examples which are not intended to be limiting.

  tive. Unless otherwise indicated, all values are expressed in parts by weight. Unless otherwise indicated, the following test procedures were used. Coefficient of Permeability The permeability coefficients of the indicated application tapes were determined using Delta Scientific Model 2110 Multirange Analyzer for Dissolved Oxygen in accordance with the procedure. explained in the operating instructions for this device. Briefly, a sample of the application tape to be tested is applied in a layer on an oxygen detection electrode (detector) of the analysis apparatus, the sample and the electrode are then immersed in the water and bubbled oxygen in this water. The oxygen then passed through the application ribbon and was detected by the detector. The coefficient of permeability was then calculated from the dissolved oxygen concentration that was detected. Conformability - The conformability was assessed by applying strips of the analyte carrying a transfer thereon from one end to the other of a series of recesses in a metal panel and a growing radius, these recessed portions requiring, for a ribbon to conform to the shape, that it provides an elongation of 25 respectively about 5%, 10%, 15% and 25%. Examples 1-6 and Comparative Examples A and B In each of the following examples and comparative examples, decorative markings bearing an adhesive layer and having clear urethane-based coatings were used as transfers. These transfers were applied using application ribbons each made with the carrier and the adhesive substance shown below. Each application ribbon was used to apply a transfer to a test panel with a partially cured melamine-formaldehyde coating. With the application tape still in place, the panel was sprayed with an INMONT E-14 basecoat / clear coat self-leveling system and cured at 150 ° C for about 15 minutes. The application ribbons were then removed and each transfer examined. The results obtained using each application tape are described below. In Example 1, the carrier is a primerless, permeable vinyl film having a thickness of about 125 μm, made in the manner described in published Japanese Patent Application No. 59-68,343 mentioned above. . The adhesive material is a layer of butyl acrylate / acrylic acid (weight ratio 98/2), 7.5 gm thick, crosslinked with a polyfunctional aziridine. Once the application tape was removed, the transfer turned out to be smooth and shiny. The over-applied paint remains on the substrate with virtually no scale or dust formation. In Example 2, the carrier is a permeable polypropylene film, as described in US Patent No. 4,539,256 (Shipman) mentioned above, of a thickness of about 50 microns. The adhesive substance is a layer, 10 μm thick, of the same adhesive substance as that used in Example 1 and applied to the support after subjecting the inner surface of the latter to an effect treatment. corona. A primer was applied to the outer surface of the support, using a thin layer (less than 2 μm) of a polyurethane primer suitable for forming a polypropylene primer. Once the application tape was removed, the transfer turned out to be smooth and shiny. The over-applied paint remains on the substrate with virtually no scale or dust formation. In Example 3, the carrier is a primerless vinyl film, about 63 μm thick, made from about 100 parts of a dispersion grade 25 polyvinyl chloride resin and of 35 parts of polyadipate polyester, which is a polymeric plasticizer. The adhesive substance is similar to that of Example 1. Once the application tape has been removed, the transfer turns out to be smooth and of a shiny appearance. The over-applied paint remains on the substrate with virtually no scale or dust formation. In Example 4, the support is a primerless vinyl film, similar to that of Example 3 and made from about 100 parts polyvinyl chloride resin, 35 parts plasticizer, and about 40 parts polyvinyl chloride. caroonate of calcium serving as a charge. The adhesive substance is similar to that used in Example 1. After removal of the application tape, the transfer is smooth and shiny. The over-applied paint remains on the substrate with virtually no scale or dust formation. In Example 5, a 35 "thick polyester film is provided with a primer on its inner surface, using a

  Thin layer (less than 2 .mu.m) of a polycarboxydiamide composition and an adhesive substance is applied to it in a layer in the same manner as in Example 1. A primer is then applied to the surface. outside the support, using a thin slice (less than 25 "m) of VITEL PE222 applied to the wheel from a dilute solution, then the whole was punctured with a laser to produce minute pores with a diameter of about 100 Nm and centers of which are spaced about 160 "m apart. Once the application tape was removed, the transfer turned out to be smooth and glossy in appearance. However, small dots of paint went through the pores until transfer and dried on it. Over-applied paint remains on the substrate with virtually no scale or dust formation. In Example 6, the carrier is uncoated polyvinyl film, analogous to that of Example 3 except that it is made with about 100 parts of polyvinyl chloride resin of a quality. for dispersion, about 37 parts of a polyadipate-type polyester plasticizer and about 50 parts of titanium white as a filler. The adnissive substance is similar to that of Example 1. After removal of the application, the transfer turns out to be smooth and of a shiny appearance. The over-applied paint remains on the substrate with virtually no scale or dust formation. In Comparative Example A, the application tape consists of a substantially impermeable polyester backing, approximately 35 μm thick, and a layer of adhesive substance similar to EXAMPLE 1. The inner and outer surfaces are both provided with a primer as in Example 5. After removal of the application tape, the transfer appears to have been pronounced blisters, thus presenting an aesthetically unacceptable appearance In Comparative Example 8, the application tape was made in a manner analogous to that of Example 5, except that The pore centers are spaced about 3.2 millimeters apart, and after removal of the application tape, the blistering was slightly less severe than in Comparative Example A, but has an aesthetically unacceptable appearance In the examples shown The permeabilities of the application tapes with respect to oxygen are as follows: EXAMPLE Coefficient (x 1010) 1 1.6 3 0.074 4 0.078 5 6 0.042 A 0.038 It has been established that the ribbon of Example 1 has an excellent comfort character, offers an elongation sufficient to be applied, even on the recessed part at 25% elongation, with the aid of a moderate pressure of the hand. In contrast, the application tape of Example A has been found to have a very limited conformable character. This application tape can be lengthened enough to apply the transfer to the 5% radius with hand pressure. This application tape could just be elongated so as to adhere the transfer to the surface of the 10% recessed portion, but the transfer is rapidly released, the application tape returning in a rapid manner. , almost to its original dimensions. It could not be stretched enough to fit the shape of the recessed parts at 15% or 25%. 2645473 _ 22_

Claims (5)

  An application tape, characterized in that it is conformable, thermally stable and permeable and comprises: a) a carrier (12) having an inner major surface (14) and a main surface outer (13) and b) a layer of adhesive substance (16) disposed on the inner surface (14) of the support 12). 10   An application tape according to claim 1, characterized by at least one of the following support characteristics: (a) the support (12) is made of a polyvinyl chloride film; (B) the support (12) has a permeability such that about 4.0 x 103 millimeters / meter 2 of carbon dioxide passes through this support in a period of 24 hours; (c) the support (12) has an oxygen permeability coefficient of at least 0.040 x 1010; (D) the carrier (12) has an oxygen permeability coefficient of at least about 0.070 x 1010; (e) the carrier (12) has a tensile strength of less than about 68,948 kPa; (F) the support (12) has a thickness of between about 51 and 76 micrometers; (g) the carrier (12) is made of a polypropylene or polyethylene film; (h) the support (12) is made of a film in which are formed multiple minute pores. 2645473 - 23-   An application tape according to any of claims 1 or 2, characterized by at least one of the following additional features of the adhesive layer: (a) the adhesive layer (16) has a thickness of between about 7.6 and about 25.4 micrometers; (b) the adhesive layer (16) is an adhesive substance formed of an acrylate; (C) the adhesive substance is crosslinked; (d) the adhesive layer (16) provides an adhesive bond on the support (12) which is at least 2.6 N / cm in width. 15   An application tape according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by at least one of the following features: (a) the application tape is substantially transparent; (b) the carrier (12) is colored; (C) the carrier (12) bears on it characters; (d) the ribbon further comprises an anti-adhesive coating (20) on the inner surface (22) of the adhesive layer (16); (e) the inner surface (14) of the carrier (12) has been provided with a primer (15) to improve adhesion of the adhesive layer (16) thereto.   A transfer article, characterized in that it comprises: (a) a conformable, thermally stable and permeable application tape, said application tape comprising a carrier (12), having a major surface area; an inner blade (14) and an outer main surface (13), and an adhesive layer (16) disposed on the inner surface (14) of said support (12), and (b) a transfer (40) disposed on the inner surface of the adhesive layer (16), which transfer (40) comprises a graphic layer (44) and a layer of adhesive substance (48).