Articles Comprising Polymeric Film Applied to a Substrate

Abstract

A polymeric film or laminate comprising the same is applied to at least a portion of a surface of an underlying article to provide, for example, desired surface characteristics. To assist in such application, a polymerizable composition is coated onto at least one of the surface of the polymeric film or the laminate and the surface of the article. The polymerizable composition is then polymerized with the polymeric film or laminate positioned thereover to form a sufficiently polymerized interlayer between the polymeric film or laminate and the underlying surface in resulting articles. Ease of removal and/or repair of polymeric film and laminates comprising the polymeric film that are so applied is facilitated.

1 . An article prepared according to a method comprising steps of:
 providing a polymerizable composition in one or multiple parts;   initiating polymerization of the polymerizable composition to form a polymerizing composition;   prior to completion of polymerization of the polymerizable composition, applying the polymerizable composition or the polymerizing composition to at least one of a portion of an underlying surface of the article or at least a portion of a major surface of the polymeric film or laminate comprising the polymeric film to be contacted with the portion of the underlying surface of the article; and   sufficiently polymerizing the polymerizing composition to form a sufficiently polymerized interlayer for adherence of the polymeric film or the laminate comprising the polymeric film to at least the portion of the underlying surface of the article, wherein the article comprises the following in sequence:   the polymeric film or laminate comprising the polymeric film outwardly exposed on the article;   the sufficiently polymerized interlayer; and   the underlying surface of the article.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric film is polyurethane-based. 
     
     
         3 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the underlying surface of the article is fiber-based. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein room temperature Brookfield viscosity of the polymerizable composition is less than about 10,000 centiPoise. 
     
     
         8 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the major surface of the laminate comprising the polymeric film comprises that of an adhesive layer. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric film or laminate comprising the polymeric film is at least partially pigmented and/or at least partially metallized. 
     
     
         14 . An article prepared according to a method comprising steps of:
 providing a polymerizable composition in one or multiple parts;   initiating polymerization of the polymerizable composition to form a polymerizing composition;   prior to completion of polymerization of the polymerizable composition, applying the polymerizable composition or the polymerizing composition to at least one of a portion of an underlying surface of the article or at least a portion of a major surface of the polymeric film or laminate comprising the polymeric film to be contacted with the portion of the underlying surface of the article;   sufficiently polymerizing the polymerizing composition to form a sufficiently polymerized interlayer for adherence of the polymeric film or the laminate comprising the polymeric film to at least the portion of the underlying surface of the article; and   separating the polymeric film, and any laminate of which it is a part, from the portion of the underlying surface, leaving behind a substantial portion of the sufficiently polymerized interlayer on the underlying surface, wherein the article comprises the following in sequence:   the substantial portion of the sufficiently polymerized interlayer; and   the underlying surface of the article.   
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises a step of applying a second polymeric film or second laminate comprising the second polymeric film to at least the portion of the underlying surface, and wherein the article comprises the following in sequence:
 the second polymeric film or second laminate comprising the second polymeric film outwardly exposed on the article;   the substantial portion of the sufficiently polymerized interlayer; and   the underlying surface of the article.   
     
     
         16 . The article method of  claim 1 , wherein the article underlying surface comprises that of a motorized vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the sufficiently polymerized interlayer has a room temperature Brookfield viscosity of greater than about 20,000 centiPoise. 
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the sufficiently polymerized interlayer exhibits a peak loss factor of less than about 1.0 when tested according to the Loss Factor Test Method. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An article comprising the following in sequence:
 an outwardly exposed polymeric film or laminate comprising the polymeric film;   a sufficiently polymerized interlayer; and   an underlying surface,   
       wherein the sufficiently polymerized interlayer is sandwiched between and adheres better to the underlying surface adjacent thereto than to the polymeric film or laminate comprising the polymeric film adjacent an opposite thereof, and 
       wherein the polymeric film or the laminate comprising the polymeric film is capable of being efficiently and effectively separated from the article, leaving behind a substantial portion of the sufficiently polymerized interlayer on the underlying surface. 
     
     
         22 . The article of  claim 21 , wherein the underlying surface comprises a fiber-based surface. 
     
     
         23 . The article of  claim 21 , wherein the polymeric film is polyurethane-based. 
     
     
         24 . The article of  claim 21 , wherein there is no covalent crosslinking between the sufficiently polymerized interlayer and polymeric film and/or layers adjacent thereto. 
     
     
         25 . The article of  claim 21 , wherein the laminate has an overall thickness of less than about 400 microns. 
     
     
         26 . The article of  claim 21 , wherein the polymeric film has a thickness of about 10 microns to about 200 microns. 
     
     
         27 . The article of  claim 21 , wherein the polymeric film is extensible. 
     
     
         28 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the sufficiently polymerized interlayer fills and substantially obviates voids and defects in the underlying surface. 
     
     
         29 . The article of  claim 16 , wherein the article provides a class A type surface for the motorized vehicle.