Abstract: Hollow, polymeric, acrylate, infusible, inherently tacky, solvent-insoluble, solvent-dispersible, elastomeric, nitrogen-containing, acid-free pressure-sensitive adhesive microspheres having an average diameter of at least about 1 micrometer wherein a majority of the microspheres contain multiple interior voids, a majority of the voids having a diameter of less than about 10% of the diameter of the microsphere, the total of the diameters of the voids being at least about 10% of the diameter of the microsphere.These hollow microspheres are useful as repositionable pressure-sensitive adhesives. The invention also provides pressure-sensitive adhesives consisting essentially of such acid-free hollow microspheres. Aqueous suspensions of these microspheres, processes for their preparation, spray repositionable pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions, and pressure-sensitive adhesive coated sheet materials are also provided.

Abstract: Hollow, polymeric, acrylate, infusible, inherently tacky, solvent-insoluble, solvent-dispersible, elastomeric, nitrogen-containing, acid-free pressure-sensitive adhesive microspheres having an average diameter of at least about 1 micrometer wherein a majority of the microspheres contain multiple interior voids, a majority of the voids having a diameter of less than about 10% of the diameter of the microspheres, the total of the diameters of the voids being at least about 10% of the diameter of the microsphere.These hollow microspheres are useful as repositionable pressure-sensitive adhesives. The invention also provides pressure-sensitive adhesives consisting essentially of such acid-free hollow microspheres. Aqueous suspensions of these microspheres, processes for their preparation, spray repositionable pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions, and pressure-sensitive adhesive coated sheet materials are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a foamlike pressure-sensitive adhesive tape comprising a flexible carrier supporting one or more pressure-sensitive adhesive layers, at least one layer of the pressure-sensitive adhesive having pigment-coated microbubbles dispersed therein having an average diameter from 5 to 200 micrometers, wherein the coat comprises pigment particle aggregates having an average pigment aggregate size being from about 0.5 microns to about 5 microns.The invention further relates to pigment-coated microbubbles, and to a method for making coated microbubbles involving rolling the pigment and the microbubbles in a cylindrical container with two or more mixing rods having lengths at least about equal to the interior diameter of the container, and a combined surface area at least about 5% of the interior surface area of the container.

Abstract: The current invention provides a photopolymerized pressure-sensitive adhesive which adheres well to all common surfaces and has an outstanding ability to bond to plasticized vinyl substrates and to remain firmly bonded thereto even after remaining in contact therewith for extended periods of time comprising an acrylic copolymer and a nitrile butadiene rubber or mixture of rubbers. Preferred pressure-sensitive adhesives of the invention comprise from about 1 to about 10 parts of the nitrile rubber or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making primary amine terminated linear polyethers of molecular weight above about 3500 which have virtually no contamination from in-chain secondary amine functionalities or amine-terminated tertiary amine side-chains. This method involves the production of novel intermediates.The invention also provides purely linear polyether-polyurea block copolymers formed by chain extension of the primary amine terminated linear polyethers.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive adhesive tape comprising a plurality of superimposed layers, at least one outer layer being a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, contiguous layer defining an interface therebetween, each of said layers comprising a photopolymerized matrix of polymeric chains; said polymeric chains extending from the matrix of one of said layers through said interface into the matrix of a contiguous layer; said polymeric chains comprising polymerized monomers having migrated from the matrix of each contiguous layer prior to polymerization, whereby said layers cannot be delaminated.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive adhesive tape can be produced by photopolymerization and yet its pressure-sensitive adhesive layer can have a dark appearance when it contains a pigment or dye plus finely divided hydrophobic silica. As compared to a tape which is identical except for omission of the hydrophobic silica, the adhesive layer of the tape is substantially darker and usually of substantially more intense color. Furthermore, the tape exhibits better adhesive properties than do otherwise identical tapes containing no silica. The pressure-sensitive adhesive preferably is an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive and may be filled with glass microbubbles which afford a foamlike appearance and character.

Abstract: A process of making pressure-sensitive adhesive tape comprising a plurality of concurrently coated superimposed layers, at least one outer layer being a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, contiguous layers defining an interface therebetween, each of the layers comprising a photopolymerized matrix of polymeric chains; the polymeric chains extending from the matrix of one of the layers through the interface into the matrix of a contiguous layer; the polymeric chains comprising photopolymerized monomers having migrated from the matrix of each contiguous layer prior to photopolymerization, whereby the layers cannot be delaminated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for suspension polymerization of a pressure-sensitive acrylate copolymer bead having a glass transition temperature of 0.degree. C. or less. The method comprises making a monomer premix comprising an acrylic acid ester of non-tertiary alcohol, the alcohol having from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, with the average number of carbon atoms being about 4 to about 12, a polar monomer copolymerizable with the acrylic acid ester, a chain transfer agent, a free-radical initiator, and a modifier moiety selected from the group consisting of 2-polystyrylethyl methacrylate macromolecular monomers, reactive zinc salts and hydrophobic silicas. The premix is then combined with a water phase containing a sufficient amount of suspending agent to form a suspension. The suspension is concurrently agitated and polymerization of the polymer premix is permitted until polymer beads are formed. The polymer beads are then collected.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making primary amine terminated linear polyethers of molecular weight above about 3500 which have virtually no contamination from in-chain secondary amine functionalities or amine-terminated tertiary amine side-chains. This method involves the production of novel intermediates.The invention also provides purely linear polyether-polyurea block copolymers formed by chain extension of the primary amine terminated linear polyethers.

Abstract: An extruded article is provided comprising a base element, and at least one rib element attached to the base element along its entire length. The rib element is narrower at its attachment end than at its free end, and is undulated.The article is formed by extruding an extrudable plastic mass having a conformable state and a nonconformable state. The extrusion rate of the free end of the rib element is sufficiently faster than that of the base element. The free end of the rib element will therefore undulate as the structure is extruded. The free end of the rib element is permitted to undulate without distortion of the base element while the plastic mass is in the conformable state. The plastic mass is then converted to the nonconformable state while maintaining the undulation in the free end of the rib element.

Abstract: A pyroelectric and isotropic piezoelectric polymeric film, the film being formed from a blend of polyvinylidene fluoride and at least one polymer miscible therewith, and prepared by forming the film, heating it to a temperature sufficient to render the film substantially amorphous, cooling at a rate and to a temperature sufficient to prevent crystallization, and polarizing the film to render same .beta.-crystalline and pyroelectric and isotropically piezoelectric.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive adhesive tape comprising a plurality of superimposed layers, at least one outer layer being a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, contiguous layers defining an interface therebetween, each of the layers comprising a photopolymerized matrix of polymeric chains; the polymeric chains extending from the matrix of one of the layers through the interface into the matrix of a contiguous layer; the polymeric chains comprising polymerized monomers having migrated from the matrix of each contiguous layer prior to polymerization, whereby the layers cannot be delaminated.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of infusible, solvent-insoluble, solvent-dispersible, inherently tacky elastomeric polymeric microspheres without the use of a suspension stabilizer comprising the steps of: (a) charging to a reaction vessel: (1) at least one alkyl acrylate or methacrylate ester monomer; (2) at least one emulsifier at a concentration above its critical micelle concentration; and (3) an effective amount of at least one substantially water insoluble polymerization initiator; (b) agitating the reaction vessel charge prior to the initiation of the reaction sufficient to create a suitable monomer/water emulsion in the reaction vessel; and (c) maintaining the agitation for a time sufficient to allow substantially complete conversion of the monomer. This process forms elastomeric, solvet-dispersible, polymeric micropheres.

Abstract: The invention primarily concerns a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, the adhesive layer of which is filled with glass microbubbles and has a dark appearance by virtue of (1) the microbubbles are stained glass which preferably is dark, and (2) dispersed throughout the adhesive layer is a pigment or dye which preferably is dark. More broadly, the invention concerns any coherent article filled with stained-glass microbubbles. The glass of the microbubbles preferably has an ultraviolet window, permitting the article to be made by photopolymerizing a matrix filled with the microbubbles.

Abstract: A crosslinked pressure-sensitive high shear adhesive is provided which is comprised of:(a) an acrylate terpolymer comprised of(i) at least one alkyl acrylate wherein the alkyl group has at least 5 carbon atoms and wherein a major portion of the alkyls have an alkyl group having from 5 to 12 carbon atoms;(ii) a second alkyl acrylate wherein the alkyl group has from 1 to 4 carbon atoms;(iii) at least one copolymerizable monoethylenically monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and itaconic acid; and(b) an amine formaldehyde condensate, in an amount of from about 0.8 to 10 percent by weight of the terpolymer.The pressure sensitive adhesive is particularly useful when it is combined with a reinforcing web and a reinforcing filler and applied to a carrier to form an adhesive tape. The adhesive is particularly useful in adhering the edges of a heat-recoverable sheet to one another to secure the closure during the closure process.

Abstract: By incorporating hydrophobic silica into acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, the shear strength at elevated temperatures is significantly improved, and adhesion and physical properties are maintained or improved. The hydrophobic silica preferably has a surface area from 50 to 400 m.sup.2 /g. A preferred acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive layer comprises a copolymer of (a) at least one alkyl acrylate having an average of 4-12 carbon atoms in its alkyl group and (b) from 3 to 20% by weight of copolymerizable monomer having a polar group such as acrylic acid.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive adhesive tape having a camouflaged appearance has a cellular of foamlike pressure-sensitive core layer and at least one relatively thin, dense, pigmented pressure-sensitive adhesive surface layer. The thickness of the core layer may be about 0.1 mm and that of a surface layer about 0.03 mm. The surface layer of such a composite tape appears to be more intense in color than does either the core layer or the surface layer by itself. When viewed edgewise, the composite tape appears to present a color that is more intense than one would expect from viewing the edges of the core layer and surface layer by themselves.

Abstract: This invention relates to bleaching compounds and compositions that provide effective and efficient surface bleaching of textiles over a wide range of bleach solution temperatures. The compounds of the invention are a C.sub.4 -C.sub.8 alkoxy substituted aromatic bleach activator. In a preferred embodiment, the bleaching compositions of the invention are detergent compositions.

Abstract: Granular detergent compositions suitable for use in automatic dishwashing machines are disclosed. The compositions contain detergency builder materials, a chlorine bleach component, a low-foaming nonionic surfactant compatible with the bleach and suds control components comprising an alkyl phosphate ester and a source of calcium ions.