LASER METHODS TO CREATE EASY TEAR-OFF MATERIALS AND ARTICLES MADE THEREFROM
A method of creating an easily torn material using laser etching, as well as articles produced therefrom is provided. As opposed to standard perforations, a laser is used to etch a line in a sheet of material. The line allows the material to be easily torn by a user, yet exhibits enough tensile strength to prevent tearing during regular use.
1 . A sheet material comprising:
a hook-and-loop material having a first major surface, an oppositely disposed second major surface, and a laser-etched score on one of the first and second major surfaces, wherein the material will separate along the laser etched score upon the application of a force.
2 . The sheet material according to claim 1 , wherein the laser-etched score is a continuously-scanned laser etched line.
3 . The sheet material according to claim 2 , wherein the laser-etched line is selected from the group consisting of a wavy line, an arcing line, and a zig-zagged line.
4 . The sheet material according to claim 1 , wherein the laser-etched score comprises sections that partially penetrate the major surface.
5 . The sheet material according to claim 1 , wherein the laser-etched score comprises at least one section which penetrates through the first and second major surfaces.
6 . The sheet material according to claim 1 , wherein the laser-etched score consists of at least two of the following:
sections that fully penetrate through said first and second surfaces;
sections that partially penetrate said surface; and
sections that do not penetrate said surface.
7 . The sheet material according to claim 1 , wherein the tensile strength along said laser-etched score is between 2.25 lbs/in and 67 lbs/in.
8 . The sheet material according to claim 1 , wherein the laser-etched score allows the material to be torn by hand but does not reduce the tensile strength in an amount sufficient to result in undesirable separation.
9 . The sheet material according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second major surfaces are 20 inches in width or greater and the laser-etched score is etched along the entire width of the material.
10 . The sheet material according to claim 2 , wherein the laser-etched, continuously-scanned line comprises craters having a varying profile along their depth.
11 . A sheet material comprising:
a hook-and-loop material having a first major surface containing fastener elements, an oppositely disposed second major surface, an adhesive layer in contact with the second major surface, a backing layer in contact with the adhesive layer, and a laser-etched score on the first major surface, wherein the material will separate along the laser etched score upon the application of a force.
12 . The sheet material of claim 11 , wherein the laser-etched score does not affect the surface morphology of the backing layer.
13 . The sheet material according to claim 12 , wherein the laser-etched score allows the material to be easily torn by hand after the backing layer has been removed.
14 . The sheet material of claim 11 , wherein the laser-etched score affects the surface morphology of the backing layer.
15 . The sheet material according to claim 14 , wherein the laser-etched score allows the material to be easily torn by hand with the backing layer attached.
16 . A method of making an easily torn sheet material comprising:
moving a web of hook-and-loop material having a first major surface and an oppositely disposed second major surface across the working area of a laser; and
laser etching a score in at least one surface of the hook-and-loop material which allows the material to separate along the laser etched score upon the application of a force.
17 . The method of making an easily torn sheet material according to claim 16 , wherein said laser etching a score produces a line comprising sections that partially penetrate the surface and sections which do not penetrate the surface.
18 . The method of making an easily torn sheet material according to claim 16 , wherein the laser-etched score consists of at least two of the following:
sections that fully penetrate through the first and second surfaces;
sections that partially penetrate said surface; and
sections that do not penetrate said surface.
19 . The method of making an easily torn sheet material according to claim 16 , wherein said laser etching a score produces a continuous laser etched line across the width of the material.
20 . The method of making an easily torn sheet material according to claim 16 , wherein the laser-etched score allows the material to be torn by hand but does not reduce the tensile strength in an amount sufficient to result in undesirable separation.
21 . The method of making an easily torn sheet material according to claim 16 , wherein the power output of the laser is between 1,000 and 5,000 W, the scan speed of the laser is between 10 and 50 m/s, and the spot size of the laser is between 0.05 and 0.3 mm.