MXPA00004308A - Pressure-sensitive adhesive coated linerless non-woven loop - Google Patents

Abstract

A storage/dispensing assembly, e.g., a roll or stack, of non-woven loop tape fastener material such as is used in hook and loop fastening system comprising one or more multilayer sheets of loop tape fastener material arranged such that the adhesive layer in the assembly of an overlying non-woven loop tape fastener material is in direct contact with the underlying loop layer of non-woven loop tape fastener material. The non-woven loop layer is formed at least in part of fibers having a denier of greater than 15 so as to decrease the level of fibers disengagement when an overlying loop tape fastener material is removed from the assembly.

Description

NON-WOVEN LOOP WITHOUT PROTECTIVE COVER, COATED WITH PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVE BACKGROUND AND FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a fastening material with loops of non-woven fibers, specifically adapted to be releasably coupled with a fixing, mechanical, male, fastening element, the fastening material with loops that it is coated on one side with a pressure sensitive adhesive and is disposed on a loop fastening material, coated with adhesive, similar without an intermediate release element. U.S. Patent No. 5,605,729 discloses a storage / distribution assembly of a loop fastening material used in a hook and loop fastening system which comprises one or more multi-layered sheets of the tape fastening material with loops with a loop. Pressure sensitive adhesive layer on one side of the tape fastening material with loops. The tape fastening material with loops is stored in a dispensable condition on a loop fastening material with underlying loops such as to be in direct contact with the loop layers of the tape fastening material with loops, REF .: 119640 underlying. When the loop fastening material, overlying, is separated from the underlying loop fastening material, the loops of the underlying loop fastening material are presented in a dockable condition. The tape fastening material with loops generally comprises a loop layer comprising a multiplicity of flexible loops and an underlying base layer in which the loops are fastened and a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on an opposite surface of the loop. base layer. A wide variety of materials with loops are described as suitable, including maya knit materials, woven materials, stitched materials or non-woven materials. A woven, knitted roll of maya knit, polyester, textured, extrusion coated with polypropylene and subsequently coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive of a sticky styrene-butadiene block copolymer is exemplified. Also exemplified is a non-woven polypropylene loop fabric adhered to a cast film of an ethylene-propylene impact copolymer resin, the film being coated with adhesive on the opposite side with a sticky adhesive "KRATON" 1111 (a adhesive based on a styrene-isoprene-styrene blog copolymer).

This tape construction with loops has been found to be very advantageous in terms of its manufacture; Roll stability, ease of use, and performance. However, with tape, fibrous, non-woven tape materials, there is a tendency for the fibers of a tape material with loops to undergo uncoupling with the backing material or the base layer when the tape is removed. tape fastening material with loops, overlying. This uncoupling of the fibers can decrease the level of adhesion of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of the superjacent loop tape when it is subsequently bonded to a substrate and / or decreases the adhesion from loop to hook with the tape material with loops. , underlying. In general, it is desirable to minimize this level of decoupling of the fibers. Fixation materials with non-woven loops are generally known in the art, and are the focus of much attention due to their low cost, ease of manufacture and aesthetic qualities. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,256,231 discloses the formation of a material with non-woven or fibrous loops by pleating either a non-woven fabric or a series of substantially non-parallel yarns in a pleating fastener and subsequently extruding a thermoplastic film in the retention portions, specific to the sheet of fibrous material, pleated. The individual fibers in the looped material are generally smaller than denier 25, preferably denier 1 to 10 in size with the looped material having a basis weight of 5 to 300 grams per square meter. This provides a low cost, non-woven loop structure, highly effective. US Patent No. 5,032,122 and PCT Application No. WO 95/33390 describe the formation of a loop fastening material with a fibrous, non-woven material intermittently adhered to a backing such that the non-woven material is folded or projected of backup between fixed regions. In both cases, the material with nonwoven loops is secured to the backing while it is in a dimensionally unstable condition and subsequently subsequently causes the backing material to contract to a suitable condition such as by the application of heat or by the release of tension in the case of an elastomeric backing material. The fibrous, non-woven material forming the loop in general may be filaments or non-woven fabrics which in the case of the North American patent are described as denier polypropylene fibers 8 to 9 for the specific example. The PCT application describes the filaments as spun or blown fibers which are preferably denier polypropylene fibers between 2 and 15. US Pat. Nos. 5,326,612 and 5,407,439 and PCT Application No. WO 96/04812 describe the formation of a fastening material with loops of non-woven materials such as non-woven polymeric fabrics which are generally described as being preferably formed of denier filaments 0.5 to 15, with a basis weight of the polymeric, non-woven fabric that is about 5.5 to 43.9 grams per square meter (5 to 40 grams per square yard). UK Patent Application No. 2285093 discloses a loop material formed by the joining of a loopy, fibrous material to an elastic compression backing, generally formed of a woven type material but which could also be a foam. The backrest is mechanically joined to a material with non-woven loops or adhered by stitches by means of needle piercing, stitching or adhesives. The fibrous, looped material can be formed of fibers of various diameters varying from polymeric, non-woven fibers having a diameter of 10 to 15 microns to staple fibers having a diameter of 10 to 100 microns. This material with loops would be dimensionally unstable and not suitable for most industrial uses. PCT Application No. WO 95/12702 is similar to that described in UK 2285093, however, it is described that the materials with loops are deposited in a manner to form a plurality of loop-shaped, interlaced springs, each having a diameter of 0.5 to 3 milliliters when using filaments that have diameters of 25 to 100 microns. Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-31,313 discloses a loop fastening material, formed by fusing a face of a fabric with non-woven loops, formed of composite core-liner fibers having a polyethylene liner and a polypropylene core. . In general, the fibers are described as having a diameter of 0.5 to 10 denier with the non-woven fabric having a basis weight of 20 to 200 grams per square meter. The loop fastening materials of the invention provide an improvement over that described in U.S. Patent No. 5,605,729 in relation to tape fastening materials with loops formed from fastening layers with non-woven loops. Specifically, the invention is directed to the consideration of the problems with regard to providing improved loop integrity and reduced fiber contamination of the adhesive layer in the loop fastening material, overlying when this is removed from the backing material. fixing with loops, underlying.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A mounting of tape fastening material with loops is provided comprising one or more multi-layered sheets of tape fastening material, with loops usable as the loop portion of a hook and loop fastener; tape fastener material, with nonwoven loops comprising in order: (1) a layer of nonwoven loops forming its first major surface, the nonwoven loop layer comprising (a) a multiplicity of loops of flexible fibers adapted to to be releasably engaged by the complementary portion of hooks of the hook and loop fastener; and (b) a base and / or backing layer in which the non-woven loops are retained: and (2) a layer of sensitive adhesive to the pressure that forms its second main surface. The layer of nonwoven loops is formed at least in part from fibers or filaments having a denier of at least 15. The tape fixing material, with non-woven loops, is arranged in the assembly such that the adhesive layer of a fixing material of tape, with non-woven, overlying loops is in direct contact with the layer of loops of a tape fastener material, with non-woven, underlying loops. The underlying loops are such that, when the tape fastener material, with non-woven, superjacent loops is removed from the assembly, the underlying loops are preferably presented in a dockable condition. In general, when the tape fastener material, with non-woven loops is in a roll form, the underlying loops are comprised of a tape fastener material, with loops, superjacent ordered in the roll and the underlying, compressed loops are restored to a coupling state after the removal of the tape with non-woven, superjacent loops.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be further explained with reference to the drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a sectional section of a portion of an embodiment of a storage / distribution assembly of the invention; FIGURE 2 is a corner view of another embodiment of a storage / distribution assembly of the invention with a portion of the looped fastener material distributed; and FIGURE 3 is a section in section of the fastener material with loops, distributed. These figures, which are idealized, are not to scale and it is proposed that they are only illustrative and not limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A fastener material assembly with non-woven loops, illustrative of the invention is shown in FIGURE 1. The assembly 10 shown comprises a stack of three multi-layered sheets 12a, 12b, 12c of the fastener materials of the invention. tape, with non-woven loops for the portion of loops of a hook and loop fastener. However, the assemblies of the invention may have an indefinite number of layers depending on the width of the tape fastener material, with non-woven loops and the shape of the stack or the continuous roll. The tape fastener material, with loops 12, comprises in order: (1) a layer of nonwoven loops 14 forming its first main surface, the nonwoven loop layer 14 comprising (a) a multiplicity of fibers 15 adapted to be releasably coupled by the complementary hook portion (not shown) of the hook and loop fastener and (b) a base layer and / or a backing layer (16) in which the loops are retained; and (2) a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive 18 which forms the second main surface of the fastener material with loops 12. The tape fastener material, with non-woven loops is arranged in the assembly 10, such that the adhesive layer 18a of the tape fastener material, with non-woven, overlying loops is in direct contact with the loop layer 14b of a tape fastening material, with non-woven, underlying loops. The loops of the loop layer 14b are such that, when the tape fastener material, with non-woven loops, overlying 12a is removed from the assembly 10, the loops of the underlying non-woven fastening material loops are present in a dockable condition. In some embodiments, the simple removal of the superjacent loop tape is sufficient such that the loops are accessible to be coupled by the material with complementary hooks. In other embodiments, where the loops are included in the assembly, the loops 14b must also be recovered from their compressed condition, either substantially only through the inherent properties or through assistance with a layer of adhesive 18a, a order to achieve a dockable state.

The tape fastener material, with non-woven loops used in the assemblies of the invention, can be made from a variety of materials with non-woven loops such as non-woven fabrics, polymeric fabrics, non-woven fabrics blown, fused, carded fabrics, non-woven fabrics deposited by air, non-woven fabrics perforated with needles, an appropriate combination of nonwoven fabrics, lace yarns of the above and the like. For many applications, the tape materials, with non-woven loops used in the assemblies of the invention will have a basis weight between about 102-678 grams / square meter (3 and 20 ounces / square yard), made of filaments made of polyolefins (for example, polypropylene), polyesters, nilons or combinations of such materials. Illustrative examples of non-woven loop materials suitable for use in the present invention are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,032,122 (Noel et al.) And PCT No. WO 920401 (Gorman et al.) And EP 341993 Bl (Gorman et al. ). According to the invention, it has been found that when a given percentage of the non-woven loop material is formed of filaments or fibers having an average denier of at least 15 that the significantly smaller fibers are removed from the backing when the tape material, with loops, superjacent is removed from the assembly even without adding binders or adhesion fibers. This results in less contamination of the tape adhesive with overlying loops and better adhesion corresponding to the substrates to which this tape fastening material with loops is subsequently applied. In general, the loop material should have at least 25 weight percent (preferably 50 to 100 weight percent) of denier fibers 15 to 50, preferably denier 15 to 30 with the remainder comprising fibers of less than denier 15, preferably denier 3 to 9. As discussed below, it may be desirable to significantly control the adhesion between the loops of a superjacent loop layer 14 and an adhesive layer 18 to achieve the desired release properties of the tape with loops, superjacent in the assembly. The control of the adhesive properties and release of the tape with loops in the assembly can be done by a variety of techniques. First, the adhesive 18 can be selected by the specific adhesion characteristics to a selected loop layer 14. Second, the loop layers 14 can be selected especially for the specific interaction with the selected adhesive. The material of the loop layer 14 can inherently exhibit the desired release characteristics or the release properties of the loop layer can be modified, for example, by the incorporation of a release control agent (for example as an additive in a polymer composition or by means of graft polymerization) in the material from which the non-woven loops are made and / or the application of a release control agent on the surface of the non-woven loops, before arranging the fixing material tape, with non-woven loops in the assembly. Illustrative examples of release control agents of the incorporated type include melt adhesive polymers or graft polymerization such as the fluorochemical graft polymer described in PCT Application No. WO 92/15626 (Rolando et al.), Etc. . Illustrative examples of surface applied (i.e., topical) release agents include urethanes such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 2,532,011 (Dahlquist et al.), Reactive silicones, fluorochemical polymers, epoxysilicones such as are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,313,988 (Bany et al.) And 4,482,687 (Kessel et al.), Polyorganosiloxane-polyurea block copolymers as described in US Pat. European Application No. 250, 248 (Leir et al.), Etc. As mentioned above, in some embodiments the loops are not substantially compressed by the overlying adhesive layer when the tape fastener material, with non-woven loops, is arranged in a storage / distribution assembly of the invention. However, for many uses it is desired to use tape fastening materials, with non-woven loops that are very soft and / or made of lightweight materials. Such non-woven loops tend to be highly flexible and thus to be subject to being compressed when disposed in the storage / distribution assembly of the invention. When the material is ordered in the storage / distribution assembly, the non-woven loops are compressed by the tape material, with non-woven, superjacent loops. After removal, the non-woven loops must be recovered in order to be easily attachable. In some examples, the non-woven loops 14b are such that they are substantially recovered (i.e., decompressed to substantially regain their pre-assembly lift) following the removal of a portion of looped, overlying tape 12a essentially without any contribution of the adhesive. However, it is typically preferred to use the action of the loop tape adhesive layer, overlying 18a for further recovery of the underlying loops 14b. In such examples, the overlying adhesive layer adheres strong enough to the non-woven loops that when the tape fastener material, with non-woven loops is removed from the assembly, the adhesive tends to attract the underlying, non-woven loops to restore them to a non-woven loop. coupling state. Adhesion of the adhesive layer to the underlying nonwoven loops is preferably sufficiently low that the non-woven loops are not substantially released from the nonwoven loop layer when the adhesive layer is separated therefrom. This effect is substantially aided by the use of fibers or filaments having a denier of at least 15 in the concentration ranges described above in the layer of nonwoven loops. If a substantial number of loop fibers do not remain retained in the base layer and are released, loose loop fibers may tend to contaminate the overlying adhesive layer and degrade its adhesion properties.

This can also reduce the number of intact loops of the underlying looped tape material available for coupling by a material with complementary hooks, thereby reducing the strength of the mechanical adhesions which can be obtained in the hook fixing systems. and loops formed. FIGURE 2 illustrates another embodiment of the invention wherein the storage / distribution assembly 20 is a roll comprising one or more multi-layered sheets of the looped fastener material as described above spirally wound itself around the core 22 However, as the ribbons with loops are shown to be concentrically wound and generally aligned, the courses of the tape with successive loops can be wound in any suitable manner such as by winding on multiple spools or the like. The overlying adhesive layer typically exhibits a bond strength to the underlying loop layer of between about 4 and about 400 grams / longitudinal centimeter, preferably between about 8 and 120 grams / longitudinal centimeter and much more preferably between about 8 and approximately 80 grams / longitudinal centimeter. As those skilled in the art , ** .- **.

You will appreciate, the embodiments of the invention can be made with adhesion forces outside these ranges if desired. However, typically, the adhesive strength must be less than the resistance to internal tearing of the nonwoven loop layer 14 or the tape fastener material, with loops such that the tape fastener material, with loops can be distributed easily from the assembly in a usable form. The tape fastening material with loops in a roll typically exhibits an unwinding force of between about 4 and about 250 grams / longitudinal centimeter, and preferably between about 8 and about 120 grams / longitudinal centimeter. The adhesive layer 18 of the tape fastener material, with loops of the invention, is a pressure sensitive adhesive. The selection of a suitable adhesive will be based in part on factors such as the substrate to which the tape fixing material, with loops must be joined, the nature of the backing layer, the nature of the loop layer and its component loops, the desired properties of the tape fastener material, with loops 12, the conditions of use to which the tape fixer material, with 12 loops and techniques Í-H ^^^^^^^^^ a ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ fc ^^^^^^^ &S-jgtól ^^^^ JJ ^ of conversion available and the equipment to remove the tape fastener material, with loops 12 from the storage mount / distribution and conversion, for example, cutting and cutting into strips, to the desired format. The adhesive layer 18 must be tacky at room temperature, adhering as desired to the proposed substrates to which the tape fastener material, with loops 12 must be applied, adhere well to the backing 16 or the base layer of the fastening material of tape, with loops. The adhesives suitable for the particular applications can be easily selected by those skilled in the art. Illustrative examples of suitable adhesives include: acrylates, sticky natural rubber, synthetic rubber, sticky resins, etc. The adhesive layer could be substantially continuous or can be modeled if desired. Suitable adhesives can be easily selected by those skilled in the art. The pressure-sensitive adhesive is preferably a tacky elastomer wherein the elastomer is a block copolymer of the type A-B wherein the block A and the blocks B are configured in linear, radial or star configurations. Block A is formed of a mono-alkenylarene, preferably a polystyrene block having a molecular weight between 4000 and 50, 000, preferably between 7,000 and 30,000. The content of block A is preferably about 10 to 50 weight percent, preferably about 10 to 30 weight percent of the block copolymer. Other suitable A blocks can be formed of alpha-methylstyrene, t-butyl styrene and other ring alkylated styrenes, as well as mixtures thereof. Block B is formed of a conjugated, elastomeric diene, in general polyisoprene having an average molecular weight of from about 5000 to about 500,000, preferably from about 50,000 to about 200,000. The content of block B is generally 90 to 500 percent, preferably 90 to 70 percent by weight. The tackifying components for elastomer-based adhesives generally comprise a sticky, solid resin and / or a liquid tackifier or a plasticizer. Preferably, the tackifying resins are selected from the group of resins at least particularly compatible with the portion of the B block of polydiene of the elastomer. Although not preferred, in general a relatively minor amount of the tackifying resin may include resins compatible with the A block, which when present are generally reinforcing resins of the so-called final block. In general, the final block resins are formed from aromatic monomer species. Suitable liquid tackifiers or plasticizers for use in the adhesive composition of a strip of fixing tape include naphthalene oils, paraffin oils, aromatic oils, mineral oils or low molecular weight turpentine esters, polyterpenes and C-5 resins. The tackifying or solid resins include C-5 resins, resin esters, polyterpenes and the like. The sticky portion of the pressure sensitive adhesive generally comprises from 20 to 300 parts per 100 parts of the elastomeric phase. However, in preferred form this is a predominantly solid tackifier, from 0 to 25 weight percent, preferably 0 to 10 weight percent of the adhesive may be a liquid tackifier and / or a plasticizer. In general, an additional layer needs to be provided between the layer of non-woven loops and the adhesive layer. FIGURE 1 shows the backrest 16. The backing 16 provides a more treatable surface for the adhesive layer 18 that the layer of 5 non-woven loops 14 could provide otherwise, ~ * "" however, the layer of loops 14 may be fused to provide a backing 16 as described in Japanese Application No. 7-313213. In most examples, the backing 16 will be a substantially continuous layer, to provide a barrier between the layer of loops 14 and the adhesive layer 18. This prevents undesirable blocking of the loops by the adhesive, for example, during the making the material with multiple layer loops when the adhesive can be more flowable than when mounting the storage / distribution assembly. U.S. Patent No. 4,994,054 (Pigneul) considers this question. The backrests can be selected to impart greater tensile strength and tear to the tape fastener material, with non-woven loops. A suitable backing for a specific application can be easily selected by one skilled in the art. The selection of a suitable backing is dependent in part on the desired properties of the tape fastener material, with loops 12, the characteristics of the loop layer 14 and the adhesive layer 18 between which it must adhere, the conditions of use to which will be exposed the material with loops, the available conversion techniques and the equipment for the removal of the fixing material with loops of storage / distribution and conversion assembly, for example, cutting and cutting into strips, to a desired format. Many commonly used materials such as tape backs will be useful. Illustrative examples of materials suitable for use as backings herein include: polyolefins, polyesters, vinyls, mixtures thereof, paper, non-woven fabric, etc. If desired, multiple layer backups can be used. Also, foam backs can be used. In a particular preferred embodiment, the backing of the tape fastening material, with loops, is an extrusion bonded film as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,256,231. In this case, the material with nonwoven loops would be fed at a contact point formed between two nested surfaces, such as two correlation gear rollers. At the contact point the material is fed with non-woven loops and a thermoplastic backing layer in a molten state of a nozzle, with an optional additional backing, or another layer on the opposite side of the backing layer, thermoplastic, casting . The pressure applied by the contact point causes the fibers of the layer with non-woven loops to be impregnated in the thermoplastic backing.

Sometimes, the backing 16 is used to impart or define to a large extent the desired tensile strength of the tape fastener material, with loops 12. In most embodiments, the backing 16 has a basis weight of between about 5.0 and about 400 grams / square meter, sometimes between about 10 and about 200 grams / square meter, and sometimes between about 20 and about 100 grams / square meter. In most embodiments, the backing 16 has a thickness between about 5 and about 12,500 microns with the largest thickness which is typically the backs of the foam type. When the backing is, for example, a polyolefin sheet, the thickness between about 25 and about 500 microns, sometimes between about 50 and 250 microns, will be common. It will be understood that backings of a thickness outside these ranges may be desired in some examples. The method of the invention for distributing a tape fastener material, with "ready for coupling" nonwoven loops, comprises the steps of: (1) providing a storage / distribution assembly as described above and (2) removing a material tape fastener, with non-woven loops, overlying the mounting such that the adhesive layer of the tape with non-woven, overlying loops is separated from the loops of the tape with non-woven loops, underlying, to enable the loops of the underlying tape fastener material, with non-woven loops, to be releasably coupled by a complementary hook fastener material. As mentioned above, in some embodiments, the adhesive of the non-woven, overlying loop tape adheres sufficiently tightly to the loops of the non-woven, underlying tape such that when the tape with non-woven, overlying loops is removed from the assembly , the adhesive of this tape tends to pull the underlying loops to restore them to a dockable state. In embodiments where the assembly is a stack comprising two or more sheets of tape fastener material, with non-woven loops, the method of removing an overlying portion of the tape fastener material, with non-woven loops may simply comprise the release from a sheet of the pile. In embodiments where the assembly is a roll comprising one or more sheets of the tape fastener material, with spirally wound loops, or otherwise around itself, the removal of an overlying portion of the tape fastener material, with Non-woven loops can comprise simply unwinding a portion of the tape fastener material, with non-woven loops from the roll. In some examples, it may be desired that the adhesive exhibits sufficiently strong adhesion to the loops such that when the tape with overlying loops is unwound, the adhesive of the overlying loop tape tends to pull up the loops of the underlying loop tape to restore them to a dockable state. In this regard, it may be desired that the roll exhibits a specific unwinding force. Typically, after removal of a portion of the tape fastener material, with nonwoven assembly loops, the tape fastener material, with loops will be cut as required and then adhered or bonded to a substrate with the adhesive layer sensitive to the pressure. The tape fastener material, with loops can be used for different applications as a loop for a fastening system of hooks and loops, if desired. For example, it could be used as a decorative ribbon, a wall cover, or a fastening tape. However, the loop tape would still be engageable with a hook fastener. The storage / distribution assemblies of the invention can be made in a variety of sizes and modalities as desired. Due to their surprising stability, roll-type assemblies of the invention using sheets of virtually any desired width can be made and handled easily. For example, rolls made from sheets of 5 centimeters (2 inches) in width or less are handled in a practical way. The rolls which are wrapped concentrically will typically be formed of sheets having a width of at least 1 centimeter. Previously, concentrically coiled rolls of sheets of such small widths were very difficult to handle due to the minimal adhesion between layers that typically results from protective release coatings. Rolls of sheets having larger widths can also be made according to the invention. In addition, large volume rolls can be made, for example, with a roll radius (i.e., the radius of the looper material measured in a radial direction from the center of the roll or core, if any) of 0.5 meters (20 inches) or more that represents several hundred or thousands of superjacent layers of the looping material. Conventional rolls, other than loop fastener material, roll-type assemblies of the invention can be made without the familiar, usually found, side liners attached to one or both ends of a roll core to help prevent telescoping of the roll concentrically rolled during handling. Similarly, assemblies of the type of stack of the invention having similar dimensions can be made.

Test Methods 135-Degree Adhesion Film Test The 135-degree film adhesion test was used to measure the amount of force required to detach a strip of a fixative material with hooks from a sample of the fixative material with Loops The test was carried out at constant temperature and humidity in a room set at 23 ° C and a relative humidity of 50%. A 5.08 cm x 12.7 cm (2 in. X 5 in.) Piece of the loop fastener material coated with pressure sensitive adhesive that is tested securely placed the bottom side adhesive on a 5.08 cm x 12.7 steel panel cm (2 inches x 5 inches). The fastening material with loops was placed on the panel with the transverse direction of the material with loops parallel to the long dimension of the panel. A 1.90 cm x 2.54 cm (0.75 in. X 1 inch) strip of the hook fastener test material (XMH-5145, available from 3M Company) with a bonded paper guide was then placed centrally on the loop panel so that the front edge of the strip with hooks was along the length of the panel. The sample was rolled by hand, once in each direction, using a 1000 gram (4.5 lb.) rubber roller. The sample panel was then placed on a 135 degree peel template and the template was placed in the bottom jaw of a constant speed of the INSTRON extension tension tester. Without pre-detaching the sample, the end of the paper guide was placed in the upper jaw of the tension tester so that there is no slack in the guide. At a crumple speed of 30.5 cm (12 inches) per minute, a chart recorder was used to record the detachment which was maintained at 135 degrees. The load required to remove the hook-fixing strip from the fastening material with loops was recorded. The reported values represent an average of 8-10 tests.

JUta «áfetÉi.

Unrolling The unwinding test provides an assessment of the amount of force required to unwind a roll of the fastening tape with loops. The roll (7.6 cm wide) of the fastening tape with loops to be tested was conditioned 24 hours at 23 ° C and 50% relative humidity. Three loops of the ribbon with loops were removed from the roll and the tape folded over the free end to form a small strip. An unwinding apparatus having a freewheeling shaft was placed in the lower jaws of a constant speed of the INSTRON extension tension tester to make sure the shaft rotated freely. The small strip was then placed in the upper clamp of the tension tester. At a 50.8 cm (20 in) per minute crosswire speed, a chart recorder was used at a chart speed of 25.4 cm (10 inches) per minute to record the average unwind value to unwind approximately 15.24 cm (6 inches) of the ribbon with loops. The unwinding values in Table II were reported in longitudinal grams / 2.54 cm and represent an average of at least two independent measurements.

^^ U ^^^^ J Fiber Exfoliation Test: Adhesion of the pelleticle at 180 Degrees and Readiness of the pelleting at 90 Degrees The exfoliation test of the fibers was used to examine the decoupling of the fibers and the subsequent contamination of the fibers. Pressure sensitive adhesive of the loop tape. A 5.08 cm x 12.7 cm (2 inch x 5 inch) piece of tape with loops to be tested was securely placed on the underside of the adhesive on a 5.08 x 12.7 cm (2 inch x 5 inch) steel panel ). A 2.54 cm (1 inch) wide strip of the test tape with pressure sensitive adhesive with a bonded paper guide was then placed centrally on the material with loops so that the leading edge of the test tape with adhesive was along the length of the panel. The test tape adhesive was a pressure sensitive adhesive of a tacky, styrene-isoprene type block copolymer (XMF-4065 available from 3M Company). The sample was rolled by hand, once in each direction, using a 5.3 kilogram (11 lb.) roller. The sample panel was then placed in the bottom jaw of a constant speed of the INSTRON extension tension tester. Without pre-detaching the sample, the end of the ^ ^ ^ Aj ^ j ^ KÉíjfa ^ rfgSgaíS ^ paper guide was placed in the upper clamp of the tension tester so that there was no looseness in the guide. At a crosshead speed of 30.5 cm (12 inches) per minute, a chart recorder was used to record the detachment, which was maintained at 180 degrees. The load required to remove the test tape from the loop fastening material was recorded. The results reported in Table II are in grams / 2.54 cm longitudinal. The values represent an average of at least two independent measurements. To examine the degree to which the pressure sensitive adhesive had become non-tacky due to the fibers that are transferred from the fastening material with loops, the tape which has adhered to the looped material was tested for the re-adhesion of the film to 90 degrees of a polyethylene film surface, smooth. This tape was also tested for the re-adhesion of the 90 degree film of a nonwoven laminate used with the top cover of a diaper on PampersMR Premium Infant Diapers.

Re-adhesion of the film at 90 Degrees A piece of 330 microns (13 mil) of the smooth polyethylene film adhered securely to a steel panel measuring 5.1 cm x 12.7 cm (two inches by five inches) using a tape with double coated with adhesive. The test tape with adhesive, contaminated, centrally placed the adhesive on the underside on the surface of the polyethylene film and the tape on roll with two steps of a 100 gram rubber roller. The panel was placed in a device which was then placed in the bottom jaw of an INSTRON constant speed tension tester while the release tape was held by the upper jaw. The upper jaw was set in motion at a constant cruising speed of 30.5 cm (12 inches) per minute, while the steel panel was moved to keep the release belt at a 90 degree angle to the panel. The tests were carried out at a constant temperature of 21 ° C and 50 percent relative humidity. The force required to remove the contaminated tape from the polyethylene film was recorded as the adhesion value. The test was carried out in a similar manner when the release of the non-woven material except that a rubber roller of 2.2 kilograms (4.5 pounds) was used for the rolling. The readmission data in Table III are reported in grams / 2.5 cm longitudinal. The results represent an average of at least two independent measurements.

Examples Examples 1-5, 9-12 and Comparative Examples 6-8, 11 The looping materials for Examples 1-5 and Comparative Examples 6-8 were prepared substantially in accordance with the method described in Example 3 and illustrated in Figure 6 of U.S. Patent No. 5,256,231, except that an opening was used between rolls 25 and 26 of 0.005 to 0.008 cm (0.002 to 0.003 inches). The sheet of backing material that adhered on the side of the thermoplastic backing layer opposite the fiber sheet was a cast polypropylene printed film of 30.5 microns (1.2 mil) thick. The polypropylene resin used to extrude the thermoplastic backing layer was a polyethylene-polypropylene impact copolymer (# 7C50 available from Union Carbide). The basis weight of the thermoplastic backing layer for the examples was 45-48 grams / meter2. The material of the loops was a carded fabric formed of fibers listed in Table 1. The side of the fibrous loops of the loop fastening material was a corona treated to have a surface energy of greater than about 33 dynes / cm and then It was coated with a release material. The release material used was a release material of the polyorganosiloxane-polyurea copolymer type similar to those described in US Pat. No. 5290.615. The release coating thickness (or coating weight) was about 0.4 - 0.8 grams / meter2. A pressure sensitive adhesive was then coated with hot melt on the backing on the side opposite the fibrous loops. The adhesive used was the same sticky styrene-isoprene type block copolymer pressure sensitive adhesive that was used on the test tape with adhesive in the fiber delamination test described above. The adhesive coating thickness was about 38 microns. The loop fastening material then wound itself into roll form without a protective release liner. Examples 9-12 and Comparative Example 13 were identical to Examples 1-4 and Comparative Example 8, except that the creping rollers were designed or formed to provide a sheet of material with loops having an adhesion pattern 1-fTliMtÍIA.tj-. ' to hexagonal preferably than a linear adhesion pattern. The hexagons were approximately 5 mm wide to have retention or adhesion portions of approximately 1 mm in width. The types and sizes of the fibers that were used to prepare the carded fiber sheets for all the fastening materials with loops used in the Examples and Comparative Examples are summarized in Table I. Weight proportions are also provided for the Examples 4, 5 and 12 which used mixtures of fibers. The basis weight of the fiber sheet (after corrugation) for all the examples was 45-48 grams / square meter.

Table I Examples Type and Size of Fibers 1 and 9 EC-4861 denier 15 1 and 10 EC-6981 denier 18 3 and 11 EC-6991 denier 25 4 and 12 mixture of T-1822 denier 30 / T-1962 denier 9 ( 75:25) 5 mix of EC-486 denier 15 / T-182 denier 30 / T-196 denier 9 (50:25:25) C6 T-1962 denier 3 C7 T-1962 denier 6 C8 and C13 T-196 denier 1EC-486, EC-698, EC-699 are cut polypropylene fibers having a fiber length of 4.76 cm (1 7/8 inches) and are available from Synthetic Industries. 2T-196 and T-182 are cut polypropylene fibers that have a fiber length of 4.76 cm (1 7/8 inches) and are available from Hercules Inc.

All the examples were tested for the Fiber De-Roll and Exfoliate according to the test methods described above. The results are summarized in Table II.

Table II The considerably higher film unwind and adhesion values at 180 ° were obtained for the examples that were prepared with the lower denier fibers (C6, C7, C8 and C13) as compared to those prepared with the higher denier fibers (Examples 1-3 and 9-11), or with mixtures of lower denier fibers and higher denier fibers (Examples 4, 5 and 12). This suggests that the pressure sensitive adhesive thus adheres strongly to the denier fibers lower than the fiber contamination of the adhesive layer on the tape fastening material, with loops, superjacent occurs when it is removed from the adhesive. tape fastening material, with loops, underlying. This results in fiber contamination of the tape adhesive with loops, superjacent and a corresponding decrease in the adhesion of the tape with loops to the polyethylene substrates and non-woven fabrics. This was affirmed by the readhesion data when the readhesion values of the 90 degree film were markedly lower (essentially non-functional) for the examples that were prepared with the lower denier fibers. Examples 1 and 5 were also tested for film adhesion at 135 degrees. The results were 639 grams / 2.54 cm longitudinal and 352 grams / 2.5 cm longitudinal, respectively. The data demonstrates that the looped material made with the higher denier fibers would work well as the loop fastening portion of a hook and loop fastener.

Examples 14, 15 and Comparative Example 16 Examples 14, 15 and Comparative Example 16 were prepared in a manner similar to that described for Examples 1-5 and Comparative Examples 6-8 above, except that a preformed backing was thermally adhered to the corrugated fiber sheet instead of extruding a layer of thermoplastic backing to the fiber sheet. This type of thermally bonded looped material and the method for doing so is generally described in European Patent No. 341 993 Bl. The basis weight of the fiber sheet (after corrugation) for these examples was 35 grams / square meter. The backing of the film to which the looped material was thermally adhered was a cast polypropylene film of 38 microns thick (1.2 mil). The types and sizes of the fibers used to prepare the fastening materials with loops are given in Table III together with the data for the re-adhesion of the 90-degree film to the polyethylene.

Table III As in the previous examples the reheat value of the 90 degree film was considerably less for Comparative Example C16 (prepared with the lower denier 9 fibers) as compared to Examples 14 and 15 which were prepared with a fiber of higher denier (denier 15) or a mixture having 75 weight percent of a higher denier fiber (denier 30). Again, this indicates that the contamination of the adhesive occurred due to the transfer of fibers from the material with loops after it has been in contact with the pressure-sensitive adhesive.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates.

Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (9)

1. An assembly of tape material, with non-woven loops, characterized in that it comprises one or more multi-layered sheets of a tape fastening material, with non-woven loops, usable as the loop portion of a hook and loop fastener, the material tape fastener, with non-woven loops comprising in order: (i) a nonwoven loop layer forming its first main surface, the nonwoven loop layer comprising (a) a multiplicity of flexible, fibrous loops, adapted to to be releasably coupled by the complementary hook portion of the hook and loop fastener, and (b) a base and / or backing layer in which the non-woven loops are retained: and (ii) a layer of sensitive adhesive to the pressure that forms its second main surface; wherein the layer of nonwoven loops is formed at least in part from the fibers having a denier of at least 15, and the tape fixing material, with non-woven loops, is arranged in the assembly such that the adhesive layer of a Tape fastener material, with non-woven, superjacent loops is in direct contact with the layer of non-woven loops of a fixing material of > •• * • Í 'tape, with non-woven, underlying loops that forms the underlying loops, the underlying loops that are such that, when the tape fastener material, with non-woven, superjacent loops is removed from the assembly, the underlying loops are present in a dockable state.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the underlying loops are compressed by the tape fastener material, with non-woven, superjacent loops, ordered in the assembly and the underlying, compressed loops are restored to a dockable state after removal. of the tape fastener material, with non-woven, superjacent loops.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that the adhesive layer of the tape fastener material, with non-woven, superjacent loops exhibits a bond strength to the layer of underlying loops of between about 4 and about 250 grams / longitudinal centimeter. .

4. The assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that the adhesive layer of the tape fastener material, with nonwoven, superjacent loops exhibits a bond strength to the layer of underlying loops of between about 8 and about 80 grams / longitudinal centimeter , the assembly is a roll comprising one or more sheets of the tape fastener material, with non-woven loops entangled in themselves, and the sheet of the tape fastener material, with non-woven loops in the roll exhibits an unwinding force of between about 8 and about 120 grams / longitudinal centimeter.

5. The assembly according to claim 4, characterized by the roll having a roll radius of up to 50 centimeters.

6. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the layer of nonwoven loops comprises a backing adhered between the layer of loops and the layer of adhesive.

7. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the layer of nonwoven loops is comprised of; a) from 25 to 100 weight percent of fibers having a denier of 15 to 50; b) from 0 to 75 weight percent of fibers having a denier of less than 25.

8. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the layer of nonwoven loops, is comprised of; from 50 to 100 weight percent of the fibers having a denier of 15 to 30; from 0 to 50 weight percent of the fibers having a denier less than 25

9. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive comprises a sticky elastomer adhesive wherein the elastomer is a block copolymer of the type AB where the block A is formed of a mono-alkenylarene and the Block B is formed of a conjugated diene wherein the content of block A is from 10 to 50 weight percent and the content of block B is from 90 to 50 weight percent of the tackifier comprising 20-300 parts by weight of the tackifier to 10 parts of elastomer.