Seam tape and methods of manufacture and use thereof
Provided herein are seam tapes and related methods. The seam tapes can be compatible with polyolefin-based waterproof/breathable (w/b) membranes, including polypropylene (PP) w/b membranes and/or polyethylene (PE) w/b membranes. Also provided are seams sealed by means of these seam tapes, as well as materials, fabrics, and garments including one or more of these sealed seams.
1. A seam tape adapted to prevent leakage through holes made in a seam during stitching, comprising:
a microporous, dry-stretched, polyolefin film including a plurality of pores having a substantially round shape,
wherein the microporous polyolefin film exhibits a ratio of machine direction tensile strength to transverse direction tensile strength of from 0.5 to 5.0, and
wherein the polyolefin film comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of impact copolymer polypropylenes, metallocene polyethylenes, and polypropylene polyethylene block copolymers;
an optional adhesive disposed on one side of the microporous polyolefin film; and
wherein the plurality of pores have an average pore size of from 0.03 microns to 0.50 microns and an aspect ratio of from 0.75 to 1.25; and wherein the microporous polyolefin film has a porosity of from 20% to 80% and a TD tensile strength of at least 175 kg/cm 2 .
2. The seam tape of claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin film has a melt temperature of from 80° C. to 175° C.
3. The seam tape of claim 2 , wherein the polyolefin film has a melt temperature of from 80° C. to 120° C.
4. The seam tape of claim 2 , wherein the polyolefin film has a melt temperature of from 155° C. to 175° C.
5. The seam tape of claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin film comprises impact copolymer polypropylene.
6. The seam tape of claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin film comprises a polypropylene polyethylene block copolymer.
7. The seam tape of claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin film comprises metallocene polyethylene.
8. The seam tape of claim 1 , wherein the microporous polyolefin film has a TD tensile strength of at least 225 kg/cm 2 .
9. The seam tape of claim 1 , wherein the microporous polyolefin film has a thickness of from 8 microns to 80 microns.
10. The seam tape of claim 1 , wherein the microporous polyolefin film has a TD shrinkage of less than 6.0% at 90° C. and less than 15.0% at 120° C.
11. The seam tape of claim 1 , wherein the microporous polyolefin film comprises a multi-ply microporous polymer film.
12. The seam tape of claim 1 , further comprising a nonwoven material, a woven material, a knit material, or a combination thereof disposed on a side of the microporous polyolefin film.
13. The seam tape of claim 1 , wherein the microporous polyolefin film is a biaxially oriented microporous polyolefin film.
14. A seam comprising the seam tape of claim 1 , the seam tape preventing leakage through holes made in the seam during stitching.
15. A seam comprising a first edge of waterproof fabric sewn together to a second edge of waterproof fabric along a stitch line; and
the seam tape of claim 1 adhered to the first edge of waterproof fabric and the second edge of waterproof fabric and covering the stitch line.
16. The seam of claim 15 , further comprising an adhesive bonding the seam tape to the first edge of waterproof fabric and the second edge of waterproof fabric.
17. A seam tape comprising:
a microporous, dry-stretched, polyolefin film including a plurality of pores, wherein the microporous polyolefin film has a JIS Gurley of 100 seconds or less; and
an optional adhesive disposed on one side of the microporous polyolefin film, and wherein the microporous polyolefin film has a porosity of from 40% to 90%, a JIS Gurley of less than 100, a mean flow pore diameter of at least 0.04 microns, and an Aquapore size of at least 0.06 microns.
18. A seam tape adapted to prevent leakage through holes made in a seam during stitching, comprising:
a microporous, dry-stretched, polyolefin film including a plurality of pores having a substantially round shape,
wherein the microporous polyolefin film exhibits a ratio of machine direction tensile strength to transverse direction tensile strength of from 0.5 to 5.0, and wherein
the polyolefin film has a melt temperature from 80° C. to 175° C.; and
an adhesive disposed on one side of the microporous polyolefin film, wherein the adhesive comprises one or more polyolefins; and
wherein the plurality of pores have an average pore size of from 0.03 microns to 0.50 microns and an aspect ratio of from 0.75 to 1.25; and wherein the microporous polyolefin film has a porosity of from 20% to 80% and a TD tensile strength of at least 175 kg/cm 2 .
19. The seam tape of claim 18 , wherein the polyolefin film has a melt temperature of from 80° C. to less than 150° C.
20. The seam tape of claim 18 , wherein the polyolefin film has a melt temperature of from 80° C. to 120° C.
21. The seam tape of claim 18 , wherein the polyolefin film has a melt temperature of from 155° C. to 175° C.
22. The seam tape of claim 18 , wherein the polyolefin film comprises polypropylene, polyethylene, or a combination thereof.
23. The seam tape of claim 22 , wherein the polyolefin film comprises impact copolymer polypropylene.
24. The seam tape of claim 22 , wherein the polyolefin film comprises a polypropylene polyethylene block copolymer.
25. The seam tape of claim 22 , wherein the polyolefin film comprises metallocene polyethylene.
26. The seam tape of claim 18 , wherein the microporous polyolefin film has a porosity of from 40% to 90%, a JIS Gurley of less than 100, a mean flow pore diameter of at least 0.04 microns, and an Aquapore size of at least 0.06 microns.
27. The seam tape of claim 18 , wherein the microporous polyolefin film has a TD tensile strength of at least 225 kg/cm 2 .
28. The seam tape of claim 18 , wherein the microporous polyolefin film has a thickness of from 8 microns to 80 microns.
29. The seam tape of claim 18 , wherein the microporous polyolefin film has a TD shrinkage of less than 6.0% at 90° C. and less than 15.0% at 120° C.
30. The seam tape of claim 18 , wherein the microporous polyolefin film comprises a multi-ply microporous polymer film.
31. The seam tape of claim 18 , further comprising a nonwoven material, a woven material, a knit material, or a combination thereof disposed on a side of the microporous polyolefin film.
32. The seam tape of claim 18 , wherein the microporous polyolefin film is a biaxially oriented microporous polyolefin film.