Optically clear pressure sensitive adhesive article

Abstract

An optically clear pressure sensitive adhesive article is described herein that includes a pressure sensitive adhesive film disposed on a substrate. The pressure sensitive adhesive film includes an optically clear adhesive composition formed by polymerizing a mixture of monomers that includes at least one (C1-C18)alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer and at least one polar (meth)acrylate monomer, and surface-modified fumed silica disposed in the optically clear pressure sensitive adhesive composition. The pressure sensitive adhesive film has a haze value in a range of 0 to 5% and a visible light transmittance value of 85 to 100%. Methods for making an optically clear pressure sensitive adhesive article are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of forming an optically clear pressure sensitive adhesive article comprising the steps of:
 polymerizing a mixture of monomers comprising at least one (C1-C18)alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer and at least one polar (meth)acrylate monomer;   combining the pressure sensitive adhesive composition with 4 wt-% or greater of hydrophobic surface-modified fumed silica to form an optically clear pressure sensitive adhesive film; and   disposing the optically clear pressure sensitive adhesive film on an optically clear substrate to form an optically clear pressure sensitive adhesive article,   wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive film has a haze value in a range of 0 to 3%, a visible light transmittance value of 85 to 100%, and exhibits a storage modulus of 102 kPa to 213 kPa at 25° C.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture of monomers comprises:
 50 wt. % to 94 wt. % of the at least one (C1-C18)alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer;   5 wt. % to 30 wt. % of the at least one polar (meth)acrylate monomer; and   1 wt. % to 20 wt. % of a (meth)acrylamide;   wherein each weight percentage of monomer is relative to a total weight of monomers in the mixture of monomers.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of crosslinking the optically clear pressure sensitive adhesive film to form a crosslinked optically clear pressure sensitive adhesive film. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of disposing the optically clear pressure sensitive adhesive film on an optical film to form an optically clear pressure sensitive adhesive laminate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of applying the optically clear pressure sensitive adhesive laminate to an optical element to form an optical article. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising crosslinking the optical article by exposure to UV irradiation.