Specular laminates

Abstract

A pressure sensitive adhesive layer with a structured surface, wherein the adhesive layer is capable of being dry laminated to a substrate to form a laminate. The adhesive layer has a haze after lamination, measured according to ASTM D 1003-95, of less than about 50% of the haze of the adhesive layer before lamination. After dry lamination, the adhesive layer has a luminous transmittance of more than about 85%, a haze of less than about 25%, and an opacity of less than about 3%.

1 . A pressure sensitive adhesive layer with a structured surface, wherein the adhesive layer is capable of being dry laminated to a substrate to form a laminate, said adhesive layer having a haze after dry lamination, measured according to ASTM D 1003-95, of less than about 50% of the haze of the adhesive layer before dry lamination, and wherein the adhesive layer after dry lamination has a luminous transmittance of more than about 85%, a haze of less than about 25%, and an opacity of less than about 3%.  
     
     
         2 . The pressure sensitive adhesive layer of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer after dry lamination has a haze of less than about 10% of the haze of the adhesive layer before dry lamination.  
     
     
         3 . The pressure sensitive adhesive layer of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer after dry lamination has a haze of less than about 3% of the haze of the adhesive layer before dry lamination.  
     
     
         4 . The pressure sensitive adhesive layer of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer includes a regular array of structures, and the structures define a volume of at least 1×10 3  μm 3  on any 500 μm diameter circular area in a two-dimensional plane of the adhesive layer.  
     
     
         5 . The pressure sensitive adhesive layer of  claim 4 , wherein the structures define a volume of about 1.0×10 3  μm 3  to about 1×10 7  μm 3  on any 500 μm diameter circular area of the adhesive layer.  
     
     
         6 . The pressure sensitive adhesive of  claim 4 , wherein the adhesive layer is removable from the substrate.  
     
     
         7 . The pressure sensitive adhesive of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer is capable of being dry laminated to the substrate at a wet out of at least 85% as measured by the Percent Wet Out Test.  
     
     
         8 . The pressure sensitive adhesive of  claim 4 , wherein the structures are selected from the group consisting of V-grooves and pyramids.  
     
     
         9 . The pressure sensitive adhesive of  claim 4 , wherein the structures are square pyramids.  
     
     
         10 . The pressure sensitive adhesive of  claim 9 , wherein the pyramids are truncated.  
     
     
         11 . The pressure sensitive adhesive of  claim 9 , wherein the pyramids have a sidewall angle of less than about 20°.  
     
     
         12 . A laminate comprising a first substantially specular substrate, a second substantially specular substrate, and a structured pressure sensitive adhesive layer between the first and second substrate, wherein the adhesive layer has a luminous transmittance of more than about 85%, haze of less than about 25% and an opacity of less than about 3%.  
     
     
         13 . The pressure sensitive adhesive of  claim 12 , wherein the haze generating structures comprise a regular and continuous array of pyramidal protrusions.  
     
     
         14 . The pressure sensitive adhesive of  claim 13 , wherein the pyramidal protrusions are truncated.  
     
     
         15 . The pressure sensitive adhesive of  claim 12 , wherein the haze generating structures comprise V-grooves.  
     
     
         16 . A transfer tape comprising a carrier layer with a pressure sensitive adhesive thereon, wherein the adhesive layer is capable of being dry laminated to a substrate to form a laminate, said adhesive layer having a haze after lamination, measured according to ASTM D 1003-95, of less than about 50% of the haze of the adhesive layer before lamination, and wherein the adhesive layer after dry lamination has a luminous transmittance of more than about 85%, a haze of less than about 25%, and an opacity of less than about 3%.  
     
     
         17 . The transfer tape of  claim 16 , wherein the carrier layer is a release liner.  
     
     
         18 . A tape comprising a substrate with a first surface and a second surface, wherein at least one of the first and second surfaces of the substrate have applied thereon a pressure sensitive adhesive, wherein the tape is capable of being dry laminated to a substrate to form a laminate, said adhesive layer having a haze after lamination, measured according to ASTM D 1003-95, of less than about 50% of the haze of the adhesive layer before lamination, and wherein the adhesive layer after dry lamination has a luminous transmittance of more than about 85%, a haze of less than about 25%, and an opacity of less than about 3%.  
     
     
         19 . The tape of  claim 18 , wherein the adhesive layer has a luminous transmittance of at least about 95%, a haze of less than about 10%, and an opacity of less than about 1%.  
     
     
         20 . The tape of  claim 19 , wherein the haze is less than about 2%.  
     
     
         21 . The tape of  claim 18 , wherein the substrate is a polymeric film.  
     
     
         22 . The tape of  claim 18 , wherein the substrate is substantially specular.  
     
     
         23 . A decal comprising an imaged polymeric film with a layer of a structured pressure sensitive adhesive thereon, wherein said decal is capable of being laminated to a substantially specular substrate to form a laminate, said adhesive layer having a haze after lamination, measured according to ASTM D 1003-95, of less than about 50% of the haze of the adhesive layer before lamination, and wherein the adhesive layer after dry lamination has a luminous transmittance of more than about 85%, a haze of less than about 25%, and an opacity of less than about 3%.  
     
     
         24 . The decal of  claim 23 , wherein the laminate has a luminous transmittance of at least about 95%, a haze of less than about 10%, and an opacity of less than about 1%.  
     
     
         25 . A method for making a substantially specular laminate, comprising: 
 (a) providing a substantially continuous layer of a structured pressure sensitive adhesive; and    (b) dry laminating the adhesive layer to a substantially specular substrate to form a laminate, wherein the said adhesive layer having a haze after lamination, measured according to ASTM D 1003-95, of less than about 50% of the haze of the adhesive layer before lamination, and wherein the adhesive layer after dry lamination has a luminous transmittance of more than about 85%, a haze of less than about 25%, and an opacity of less than about 3%.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the laminate has a luminous transmittance of at least about 95%, a haze of less than about 10%, and an opacity of less than about 1%.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the haze is less than about 2%.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the substrate is an optical display.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the substrate is a vehicular windshield.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the adhesive layer further comprises a polymeric film.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the polymeric film is selected from the group consisting of polarizing films and reflective films.  
     
     
         32 . A method for making an optical display, comprising: 
 (a) providing a substantially continuous layer of a structured pressure sensitive adhesive; and    (b) dry laminating the adhesive layer to a substantially specular optical display to form a laminate, said adhesive layer having a haze after lamination, measured according to ASTM D 1003-95, of less than about 50% of the haze of the adhesive layer before lamination, and wherein the adhesive layer after dry lamination has a luminous transmittance of more than about 85%, a haze of less than about 25%, and an opacity of less than about 3%.    
     
     
         33 . A method for applying a decal to a vehicle windshield, comprising: 
 (a) providing a tape comprising a polymeric film with a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is imaged and the second side has applied thereon a substantially continuous layer of a pressure sensitive adhesive,    (b) bonding the adhesive layer to a windshield to form an specular laminate structure, wherein the adhesive layer having a haze after lamination, measured according to ASTM D 1003-95, of less than about 50% of the haze of the adhesive layer before lamination, and wherein the adhesive layer after dry lamination has a luminous transmittance of more than about 85%, a haze of less than about 25%, and an opacity of less than about 3%.