Abstract: A pressure sensitive adhesive tape is provided having a silicone-free release layer, said tape comprising (1) at least one backing layer; (2) at least one pressure sensitive adhesive layer, and (3) at least one silicone-free release layer, said release layer comprising a crosslinked poly(alkylene oxide), said poly(alkylene oxide) being defined by the formula X1—(O—R)n—OX2 where X1 and X2 are terminal groups at least one of which permits crosslinking of said poly(alkylene oxide), n ranges from 1 to 200,000, R is a straight or branched alkylene group having the formula (CR1R2)m where m is an integer from 1 to 10 and R1 and R2 may independently be hydrogen and C1-3 alkyl.

Abstract: A graft copolymer pressure sensitive adhesive is provided comprised of a backbone polymer having a polymeric moiety grafted thereto. The copolymer comprises at least one A monomer consisting of a monomeric (meth)acrylic acid ester of a non-tertiary alcohol, optionally at least one B monomer, optionally at least one polymeric graft moiety C having a Tg greater than 20° C., and a macromeric graft moiety D containing repeat hydrophilic units.

Abstract: A transdermal drug delivery system is provided which includes an optionally crosslinked macromer-reinforced (meth)acrylic ester base copolymer pressure sensitive adhesive wherein the macromer includes repeat hydrophilic units.

Abstract: A novel high performance pressure sensitive adhesive composition is provided comprised of a phase separated graft copolymer comprised of a polymerized acrylic or methacrylic acid ester backbone having grafted thereon pendant polymeric moieties such as polystyrene or poly-alpha-methylstyrene in an amount of from 1.5 to 2.5 grafts per polymer chain on average.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive adhesive transdermal hormone delivery system is provided comprised of (1) a macromer reinforced (meth)acrylic ester base copolymer, and (2) a pharmacologically active agent in homogeneous admixture with said macromer-reinforced base copolymer, wherein the macromer contains hydrophilic repeat units

Abstract: A conductive graft copolymer is provided comprised of a polymerized acrylic or methacrylic acid ester backbone having grafted thereon pendant polymeric sulfur, nitrogen or oxygen-containing heterocyclic moieties. The conductive graft copolymer is particularly useful as a pressure sensitive adhesive.

Abstract: Novel sulfur, oxygen and nitrogen-containing heterocyclic monomers are provided which may be used to produce conductive graft copolymers.

Abstract: A two-step method is provided for the production of a pressure sensitive adhesive by radiation curing. The method comprises the steps of initially irradiating a monomer composition comprised of 65 to 100 percent by weight of monomers having a Tg<0.degree. C. to form a coatable syrup, followed by adding at least one monomer having a Tg>0.degree. C. and at least one multifunctional monomer or oligomer to said syrup, and further irradiating the mixture to form a pressure sensitive adhesive.

Abstract: An ionically-crosslinked absorbent graft copolymer which exhibits pressure sensitive adhesive properties is provided comprised of a hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic base monomer and a water-soluble or water-dispersible macromer. The ionically-crosslinked absorbent graft copolymer exhibits desirable water absorbency and water vapor transmission rates and may be used in a variety of medical applications such as a wound dressing, medical adhesive, or biomedical electrode.

Abstract: A covalently crosslinked absorbent graft copolymer is provided comprised of a water-soluble base monomer and a water-soluble or water-dispersible macromer. In a preferred embodiment, the water-soluble base monomer comprises a carboxylic hydroxyalkyl ester monomer and the water-soluble macromer comprises an ethoxylated or propoxylated hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate. The covalently crosslinked absorbent graft copolymer exhibits desirable water absorbency and water vapor transmission rates and may be used in a variety of medical applications such as a wound dressing, medical adhesive or biomedical electrode.

Abstract: A novel high performance pressure sensitive adhesive composition is provided comprised of a phase separated graft copolymer comprised of a polymerized acrylic or methacrylic acid ester backbone having grafted thereon pendant polymeric moieties such as polystyrene or poly-alpha-methylstyrene. The average number of carbon atoms present in the ester portion of the backbone ranges from 2.5 to 3.5. The composition is non-corrosive and has a low volatile content.

Abstract: A novel high performance pressure sensitive adhesive composition is provided comprised of a phase separated graft copolymer comprised of a polymerized acrylic or methacrylic acid ester backbone having grafted thereon pendant polymeric moieties such as polystyrene or poly-alpha-methylstyrene. The composition is non-corrosive and has a low volatile content.

Abstract: A method is provided for the production of a water-soluble or water-dispersible copolymer. The copolymer is comprised of a water-soluble base monomer and/or a water-soluble or water-dispersible macromer. The disclosed method involves a two step polymerization procedure wherein in a first step a minor portion of the reactants are polymerized to conversion under conditions which result in the formation of a low molecular weight product, and in a second step the remaining portion of the reactants are polymerized to conversion in the presence of the reaction product of the first step under conditions which result in the production of a higher molecular weight product.

Abstract: A radiation-cured adhesive film having differential adhesion on opposing surfaces of the adhesive layer is provided. The film comprises a backing layer having coated thereon a radiation-cured adhesive copolymer layer, said copolymer comprised of one or more urethane oligomers A, optionally one or more B monomers, and a macromer C defined by the formula X--(Y).sub.

Abstract: A drug flux enhancer-tolerant pressure sensitive adhesive composition is provided comprised of a mixture of (1) a percutaneous penetration enhancer to increase permeability of skin to transdermally administered pharmacologically active agents and (2) a macromer reinforced base polymer, said base polymer comprising a phase separated graft copolymer composition comprised of copolymerized monomers A and B to form a backbone polymer having polymeric moieties grafted thereto, wherein monomer A is a monomeric acrylic or methacrylic ester of a non-tertiary alcohol having from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, with the average number of carbon atoms being in the range of about 4 to 12, and a monomer B is a polar monomer which is copolymerizable with monomer A.

Abstract: A water-soluble or water-dispersible pressure sensitive adhesive is provided comprised of a normally-tacky copolymer of a water-soluble base monomer and a water-soluble or water-dispersible macromer. In a preferred embodiment, the water-soluble base monomer comprises a carboxylic hydroxyalkyl ester monomer and the water-soluble macromer comprises an ethoxylated or propoxylated hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate.

Abstract: A water-soluble or water-dispersible pressure sensitive adhesive is provided comprised of a normally-tacky copolymer of a water-soluble base monomer and a water-soluble or water-dispersible macromer. In a preferred embodiment, the water-soluble base monomer comprises a carboxylic hydroxyalkyl ester monomer and the water-soluble macromer comprises an ethoxylated or propoxylated hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate.

Abstract: A water-soluble or water-dispersible normally tacky pressure sensitive adhesive is provided comprised of a copolymer of a water-soluble base monomer and a water-soluble macromer. In a preferred embodiment, the water-soluble base monomer comprises a carboxylic hydroxyalkyl ester monomer and the water-soluble macromer comprises an ethoxylated or propoxylated hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate.

Abstract: A water-absorbent pressure sensitive adhesive composition is provided comprising (a) a continuous phase comprised of a copolymer of a hydrophobic monomer and a hydrophilic monomer, said monomers being present in said copolymer in a weight ratio of from about 50:50 to about 90:10, respectively; and (b) a non-particulate discontinuous phase comprised of domains of a hydrophilic homopolymer or copolymer dispersed throughout said continuous phase.

Abstract: A novel polymeric pressure-sensitive adhesive formulation is provided comprised of a balanced hydrophilic/hydrophobic base polymer compounded with at least one water-soluble tackifying component. Upon contact of the pressure-sensitive adhesive with excess amounts of water, the water-soluble tackifying component is caused to separate from the base polymer, thus decreasing the ability of the base polymer to function as a pressure-sensitive adhesive. The adhesive may subsequently be easily removed from any substrate to which it has been applied.