초록

An article for reducing the drag caused by a fluid flowing over a surface comprises a backing layer having an outer, exposed patterned surface that reduces drag, and an adhesive bonding layer for bonding the backing layer to the surface of a substrate, the article being free of a reinforcing layer.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A drag reduction article comprising: (a) a fluoropolymer backing layer having an outer, exposed patterned surface that reduces the drag caused by a fluid flowing over the surface, wherein the backing layer comprises a blend of first and second polymers, the first polymer comp

What is claimed is: 1. A drag reduction article comprising: (a) a fluoropolymer backing layer having an outer, exposed patterned surface that reduces the drag caused by a fluid flowing over the surface, wherein the backing layer comprises a blend of first and second polymers, the first polymer comprising at least 70% by weight of a fluoropolymer, and the second polymer comprising as much as 30% by weight of an acrylic polymer; (b) a pressure-sensitive adhesive bonding layer adjacent to the backing layer; and (c) an intermediate layer between the backing and adhesive bonding layer, wherein the intermediate layer comprises a blend of first and second polymers, the first polymer comprising as much as 30% by weight of a fluoropolymer, and the second polymer comprising at least 70% by weight of an acrylic polymer, and wherein the article is free of a reinforcing layer. 2. A drag reduction article comprising: (a) an outer layer having an exposed, patterned surface that reduces the drag caused by a fluid flowing over the surface, wherein: (1) the outer layer comprises a blend of first and second polymers, the first polymer comprising polymerized units of vinylidene fluoride, and the second polymer comprising the polymerization product of a monomer selected from the group consisting of methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, and combinations thereof; and (2) the exposed, patterned surface is a series of essentially parallel peaks separated by a series of essentially parallel valleys; (b) an adhesive bonding layer for bonding the drag reduction article to a surface; and (c) an intermediate layer between the outer layer and the adhesive bonding layer; wherein: the intermediate layer comprises: a blend of first and second polymers, the first polymer comprising polymerized units of vinylidene fluoride, and the second polymer comprising the polymerization product of a monomer selected from the group consisting of methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, and combinations thereof; and wherein the article is free of a reinforcing layer. 3. A drag reduction article according to claim 2 wherein the polymer that comprises polymerized units of vinylidene fluoride is independently selected for both the outer layer and the intermediate layer from the group consisting of: (1) polymerized units of vinylidene fluoride, (2) copolymers derived from polymerized units of vinylidene fluoride and a monomer selected from the group consisting of ethylene, hexafluoropropylene, tetrafluoroethylene, and combinations thereof, and (3) combinations of (1) and (2). 4. A drag reduction article according to claim 3 wherein the second polymer is poly(methyl methacrylate). 5. An article that is capable of reducing the drag caused by a fluid flowing over a substrate to which the article is attached, the drag reduction article comprising: (a) an outer layer having an exposed, patterned surface that reduces the drag caused by the fluid flowing over the surface, wherein: (1) the outer layer comprises a blend of first and second polymers, the first polymer comprising at least 70% by weight of a polymer that is selected from the group consisting of: (A) poly(vinylidene fluoride), (B) copolymers derived from polymerized units of vinylidene fluoride and a monomer selected from the group consisting of ethylene, hexafluoropropylene, tetrafluoroethylene, and combinations thereof, and (C) combinations of (A) and (B), and the second polymer comprising as much as 30% by weight poly(methyl methacrylate); and (2) the exposed, patterned surface is a series of essentially parallel peaks separated by a series of essentially parallel valleys; (b) an adhesive bonding layer for bonding the drag reduction article to the substrate; and (c) an intermediate layer between the outer layer and the adhesive bonding layer, wherein the intermediate layer comprises a blend of first and second polymers, the first polymer comprising as much as 30% by weight of a polymer that is selected from the group consisting of: (1) poly(vinylidene fluoride), (2) copolymers derived from polymerized units of vinylidene fluoride and a monomer selected from the group consisting of ethylene, hexafluoropropylene, tetrafluoroethylene, and combinations thereof, and (3) combinations of (1) and (2), and the second polymer comprising at least 70% by weight poly(methyl methacrylate); wherein the article is free of a reinforcing layer. 6. An assembly comprising a drag reduction article according to claim 5 that has been adhesively bonded to the surface of an airplane so as to reduce the drag caused by a fluid flowing over that surface.