Method of making a laminate with a stretched thermoplastic layer

US11020949B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Thomas J. Gilbert · Windom, US
• Neelakandan Chandrasekaran · Woodbury, US
• Todd L. Nelson · Eau Claire, US
• Michael R. Gorman · Lake Elmo, US
• Mark A. Peltier · Forest Lake, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 19, 2016
• Grant date: Jun 1, 2021
• Expiry date: Nov 14, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B32B2555/02
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The method of making a laminate (100) includes stretching a thermoplastic layer (102) so that it plastically deforms, relaxing the plastically deformed thermoplastic layer (102) to reduce its tensile strain, and subsequently laminating the thermoplastic layer (102) to a substrate (104) to make the laminate (100). The stretching, relaxing, and laminating are completed in-line. The thermoplastic layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, with the first surface of the thermoplastic layer bearing a plurality of male fastening elements. The second surface of the thermoplastic layer (100) is laminated to the substrate (104).