Abstract: Adhesive tapes, articles containing the adhesive tapes, methods of making the adhesive tapes, and uses of the adhesive tapes are described. The adhesive tape is stretch releasable and can be used to couple two substrates together. The adhesive tape can be removed easily to separate the two substrates for any reason. The adhesive tape includes a backing layer and at least one pressure sensitive adhesive layer adjacent to the backing layer. The backing layer contains a poly(alkylene) copolymer. Each pressure sensitive adhesive layer contains an acrylic copolymer that is crosslinked plus inorganic particles that are dispersed or suspended in the acrylic copolymer.

Abstract: Adhesive tapes, articles containing the adhesive tapes, methods of making the adhesive tapes, and uses of the adhesive tapes are described. The adhesive tape is stretch releasable and can be used to couple two substrates together. The adhesive tape can be removed easily to separate the two substrates for any reason. The adhesive tape includes a backing layer and at least one pressure-sensitive adhesive layer adjacent to the backing layer. The backing layer contains a first acrylic copolymer. Each pressure-sensitive adhesive layer contains a second acrylic copolymer plus inorganic particles that are dispersed or suspended in the second acrylic copolymer.

Abstract: Pressure-sensitive adhesives and adhesive tapes containing the pressure-sensitive adhesive are described. The pressure-sensitive adhesive contains a crosslinked acrylic copolymer plus inorganic particles that are dispersed or suspended in the crosslinked acrylic copolymer. The pressure-sensitive adhesive and adhesive tapes containing the pressure-sensitive adhesive can be removed after being adhered to a substrate by stretching.

Abstract: There is provided a laminate of a thermoplastic backing to a fibrous web. This laminate, for example, could be used as a loop laminate for use in a hook and loop fastening system or an intermittently bonded elastic fibrous laminate. The laminate comprises a thermoplastic backing layer, having a first face and a second face. The backing layer has a plurality of projections extending from at least the first face of the backing. A fibrous web is attached to the backing at the location of at least some of the projections. The thermoplastic material of the backing, at the location of the projections, penetrates into the fibrous web encapsulating at least in part fibers of the fibrous web. The fibrous web preferably penetrates into at least some of the projections. The fibrous web is generally not attached, or very lightly attached, to the backing layer over at least some portion of the distance between adjacent projections.

Abstract: Methods of preparing hybrid aerogels are described. The methods include co-condensing a metal oxide precursor and an organo-functional metal oxide precursor, and crosslinking the organo-functional groups with an ethylenically-unsaturated crosslink agent. Thermal energy and actinic radiation crosslinking are described. Both supercritical aerogel and xerogels, including hydrophobic supercritical aerogel and xerogels, are described. Aerogel articles, including flexible aerogel articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of making hydrophobic aerogels are described. Disclosed methods include forming a surface-modified metal oxide aerogel precursor from a sol comprising a solvent, a metal oxide precursor, and a hydrophobic surface modifying agent. The resulting modified precursor can be dried to from hydrophobic aerogels. Methods of forming the surface-modified metal oxide aerogel precursor include hydrolyzing the metal oxide precursor and co-condensing the hydrolyzed metal oxide precursor and the hydrophobic surface modifying agent. Hydrophobic aerogels and hydrophobic aerogel articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: Blended release materials including a blend of a fluoro-functional silicone release polymer and a fluoropolymer are described. Exemplary fluoropolymers include fluoroolefin-based polymers and linear fluoropolymers including linear fluoroacryaltes. Articles including such release materials such as release liners, and adhesive articles, including silicone adhesive articles, are also described.

Abstract: Methods of forming hybrid aerogels are described. The methods include forming a hybrid aerogel from a metal oxide precursor and a branched telechelic copolymer, e.g., co-hydrolyzing and co-condensing the metal oxide precursor and the branched telechelic copolymer. Aerogels and aerogel articles, including hydrophobic aerogels and hydrophobic aerogel articles are also described.

Abstract: A nonplanar, thermoplastic polymeric film having a top surface, a bottom surface, a midline, and a series of peaks and valleys oscillating around the midline and forming continuous ridges in a first direction on both the top surface and the bottom surface of the film. The nonplanar, thermoplastic polymeric film has two or more polymer layers with at least one polymer layer partitioned disproportionally in the peaks such that at least two of the two or more polymer layers vary in thickness across the width of the nonplanar, thermoplastic polymeric film.

Abstract: An adhesive tape that is stretch releasable, articles that contain the adhesive tape, and uses of the adhesive tape are disclosed. The adhesive tapes include a backing layer that is adjacent to at least one pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. The backing layer typically is optically clear and includes a poly(alkylene)copolymer. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is a silicone-based adhesive composition. In many embodiments, the adhesive tape is optically clear.

Abstract: Toughened curable compositions are described. The curable compositions include a curable resin, surface-modified nanoparticles, and rubber nano-domains. Both core-shell rubber nano-domains, and nano-rubber domains arising from self-assembled block co-polymers are disclosed. Toughened, cured resin compositions, and articles comprising such cured compositions are also discussed.

Abstract: An insulated glazing unit is described and includes a first transparent substrate spaced apart from a parallel second transparent substrate, a sealed void space defined between the first transparent substrate, second transparent substrate, and the window mounting member, and an infrared radiation reflecting multilayer polymeric film disposed between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate. The infrared radiation reflecting multilayer polymeric film includes a plurality of alternating polymeric layers of a first polymer material and a second polymer material. At least one of the alternating polymer layers is birefringent and oriented. The alternating, polymeric layers cooperate to reflect infrared radiation.

Abstract: Methods of making cut adhesive articles are described. The methods involve: providing a crosslinked pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed on a substrate, embossing a surface of the crosslinked pressure sensitive adhesive layer to form a microstructured crosslinked pressure sensitive adhesive layer having a microstructured adhesive surface, and die cutting the microstructured crosslinked pressure sensitive adhesive layer.

Abstract: Methods for coextruding a predetermined initial melt stream through at least one profiled die having a nonlinear inlet opening and an outlet opening. The die insert is positioned so as to cause redistribution of at least a portion of the melt stream. The nonlinear melt stream formed at the nonlinear inlet opening converges within the die insert into a substantially more linear or rectangular melt stream at the die insert outlet opening. At the die insert outlet opening at least one or more regions of the melt stream vary in properties or material clue to the redistribution of the melt stream in the die insert. Articles extruded using the coextrusion methods are also described.

Abstract: Adhesive articles including transfer tapes and labels are described. The adhesive articles include a low elastic modulus adhesive on a microstructured release liner having a high coefficient of friction release surface. Improvements in die cut quality and razor slit edge quality are shown.

Abstract: The invention is directed in part to an article that includes a polymer foam having a surface with surface microstructures, the surface microstructures have at least one extent or dimension of about 10 microns or more, preferably 50 microns or more. A maximum extent (unless it is a continuous rib-like structure) the microstructure is about 300 microns or less, preferably 200 microns or less, and generally a maximum height of 1000 microns or less, preferably 750 microns or less and a minimum height of 200 microns or more, preferably 300 microns or more. The foamed article may be provided in a variety of shapes, including a rod, a cylinder, a sheet, etc. In a preferred embodiment where the foam is provided in the form of a sheet, the foam has a pair of major surfaces, one or both of which can be provided with surface microstructures.

Abstract: The invention is directed in part to an article that includes a polymer foam having a surface with surface microstructures, the surface microstructures have at least one extent or dimension of about 10 microns or more, preferably 50 microns or more. A maximum extent (unless it is a continuous rib-like structure) the microstructure is about 300 microns or less, preferably 200 microns or less, and generally a maximum height of 1000 microns or less, preferably 750 microns or less and a minimum height of 200 microns or more, preferably 300 microns or more. The foamed article may be provided in a variety of shapes, including a rod, a cylinder, a sheet, etc. In a preferred embodiment where the foam is provided in the form of a sheet, the foam has a pair of major surfaces, one or both of which can be provided with surface microstructures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming preferably a unitary polymeric hook fastener comprising a flexible backing, and a multiplicity of spaced hook members projecting from the upper surface of the unitary backing wherein each hook member comprises a multiplicity of hook head elements projecting in substantially the same direction. The hook members each comprise a stem portion attached at one end to the backing, and a head portion at the end of the stem portion opposite the backing. The head portion can also extend from a side of a stem portion or be omitted entirely to form alternative projections which can be other forms than a hook member. The head portion preferably projects past the stem portion on at least one of two opposite sides. At least the hook head portions have two or more hook head elements on at least one of the two opposing sides of the stem.

Abstract: The present invention concerns breathable fasteners for use with hook fastener systems. The breathable fastening system comprises a first breathable mechanical fastener surface, which is generally a loop or fibrous type surface that can optionally be joined to a breathable backing loop, and a recon large area breathable hook type fastener. The hook type fastener generally has an integral film backing which film backing has a porosity of from 0.0001 to 0.005 cm3, a backing thickness of from 25 to 200 ?m, a stiffness of from 10 to 2000 Gurley units and a hook or projection containing surface area of at least 10 cm2.

Abstract: A nonplanar, thermoplastic polymeric film having a top surface, a bottom surface, a midline, and a series of peaks and valleys oscillating around the midline and forming continuous ridges in a first direction on both the top surface and the bottom surface of the film. The nonplanar, thermoplastic polymeric film has two or more polymer layers with at least one polymer layer partitioned disproportionally in the peaks such that at least two of the two or more polymer layers vary in thickness across the width of the nonplanar, thermoplastic polymeric film.