Abstract: A mold 79 that includes an array of cube-corner elements 80 that are arranged in the array such that a retroreflective cube-corner sheeting 60 that is formed thereon is capable of glittering when light is incident on the sheeting. The array may be defined by three sets of intersecting grooves 25, 26, 27 where each groove set includes two or more generally parallel grooves. At least one groove in at least one of the sets has faces 22 of adjacent cube-corner elements 30a, 30b arranged such that a dihedral angle .alpha. located between adjacent faces varies along the groove(s) in the set.

Abstract: A method of making a glittering cube-corner sheeting, which method includes: (a) providing a first retroreflective sheeting that includes an array of cube-corner elements arranged in a repeating pattern; and (b) exposing the first retroreflective sheeting to heat, pressure, or a combination thereof to produce a second retroreflective sheeting that comprises an array of cube-corner elements that are randomly tilted; or which method may comprise: (a) providing a mold that has a structured surface that includes a multiplicity of cube-comer elements, the cube-corner elements each including a base plane and three faces, the cube-corner elements being arranged such that the base planes do not reside in the same plane when the sheeting is laid flat; and (b) forming a cube-corner sheeting from the mold.

Abstract: A retroreflective sheeting having a multiplicity of discrete, cube-corner elements cured in situ on a transparent, polymeric overlay film deformed into a three-dimensional structure so that base edges of a plurality of cube-corner elements are non-planar with respect to one another. The retroreflective article preferably has at least one target optical property. The present invention is also directed to a method of deforming the retroreflective sheeting to form a retroreflective article in which the base edges of a plurality of cube-corner elements are non-planar with respect to one another.

Abstract: The invention provides a radiation curable release coating composition comprising:(a) about 1 to about 50 percent by weight of a cationically reactive polydiorganosiloxane liquid rubber having the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R are monovalent moieties which can be the same or different selected from the group consisting of alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, and substituted aryl wherein at least about 50% of the total number of silicon atoms have two methyl groups bonded thereto;E is an organic monovalent functional group comprising from about 1 to about 20 carbon atoms having at least one cationically co-reactive functional group;a and b both represent integers, wherein the sum of a plus b is an integer of about 10 to about 1200;b has a value ranging from about 0 to about 0.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing flexible cube corner retroreflective sheeting comprising the steps of:a) providing a tool having a molding surface;b) applying to the molding surface a volume of a flowable resin composition;c) contacting the resin composition with a first major surface of an overlay film;d) minimizing excess resin composition;e) curing the resin composition to form a sheeting comprising an array of cube corner elements bonded to the overlay film;f) removing the sheeting from the tool; andg) applying mechanical stress to the sheeting so as to cause a fractured separation of substantially each individual cube corner element from surrounding cube corner elements.

Abstract: The invention provides a radiation curable release coating composition comprising:(a) about 1 to about 50 percent by weight of a cationically reactive polydiorganosiloxane liquid rubber having the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R are monovalent moieties which can be the same or different selected from the group consisting of alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, and substituted aryl wherein at least about 50% of the total number of silicon atoms have two methyl groups bonded thereto;E is an organic monovalent functional group comprising from about 1 to about 20 carbon atoms having at least one cationically co-reactive functional group;a and b both represent integers, wherein the sum of a plus b is an integer of about 10 to about 1200;b has a value ranging from about 0 to about 0.

Abstract: A slip control sheeting can comprise a backing having a first and a second major surface and an array of protrusions on the first major surface. The protrusions can be pyramids with polygonal bases or pyramidal frustums with polygonal bases. Alternatively, the protrusions can comprise posts having non-planar sides and bases on the first major surface wherein the posts taper radially inwardly from their bases to their tops, e.g., cones or conical frustums with circular bases. The sheeting can further comprise at least one of a layer of adhesive on the second major surface, a reinforcing web, or a mechanical fastening component for fastening the backing to a substrate. The sheeting can be made so that it retroreflects less than about 10 percent of a beam of electromagnetic radiation which is incident at any angle to the second major surface, the electromagnetic radiation having any wavelength from about 0.39 microns to about 1,000 microns.

Abstract: A hydrophilic, pressure-sensitive adhesive composition prepared by irradiating solid poly(N-vinyl lactam) with ionizing radiation to crosslink the poly(N-vinyl lactam) and thereafter mixing the radiation-crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) with essentially unirradiated plasticizer in an amount sufficient to form a cohesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive composition. The composition is useful as a biomedical adhesive for transmitting or receiving electrical signals as a component of a biomedical electrode. The composition is also useful as a drug delivery device to deliver pharmaceuticals or other active ingredients to or through mammalian skin. The composition is also useful as a component in a skin covering for protecting mammalian skin or mammalian skin openings with antimicrobial agents. A method of preparation of the composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hydrophilic, pressure-sensitive adhesive composition prepared by irradiating solid poly(N-vinyl lactam) with ionizing radiation to crosslink the poly(N-vinyl lactam) and thereafter mixing the radiation-crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) with essentially unirradiated plasticizer in an amount sufficient to form a cohesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive composition. The composition is useful as a biomedical adhesive for transmitting or receiving electrical signals as a component of a biomedical electrode. The composition is also useful as a drug delivery device to deliver pharmaceuticals or other active ingredients to or through mammalian skin. The composition is also useful as a component in a skin covering for protecting mammalian skin Or mammalian skin openings with antimicrobial agents. A method of preparation of the composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hydrophilic, pressure-sensitive adhesive composition prepared by irradiating solid poly(N-vinyl lactam) with ionizing radiation to crosslink the poly(N-vinyl lactam) and thereafter mixing the radiation-crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) with essentially unirradiated plasticizer in an amount sufficient to form a cohesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive composition. The composition is useful as a biomedical adhesive for transmitting or receiving electrical signals as a component of a biomedical electrode. The composition is also useful as a drug delivery device to deliver pharmaceuticals or other active ingredients to or through mammalian skin. The composition is also useful as a component in a skin covering for protecting mammalian skin or mammalian skin openings with antimicrobial agents. A method of preparation of the composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hydrophilic, pressure-sensitive adhesive composition prepared by irradiating solid poly(N-vinyl lactam) with ionizing radiation to crosslink the poly(N-vinyl lactam) and thereafter mixing the radiation-crosslinked poly(N-vinyl lactam) with essentially unirradiated plasticizer in an amount sufficient to form a cohesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive composition. The composition is useful as a biomedical adhesive for transmitting or receiving electrical signals as a component of a biomedical electrode. The composition is also useful as a drug delivery device to deliver pharmaceuticals or other active ingredients to or through mammalian skin. The composition is also useful as a component in a skin covering for protecting mammalian skin or mammalian skin openings with antimicrobial agents. A method of preparation of the composition is also disclosed.