The present invention relates to a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition including a compound having a substituent represented by the general formula (1) described in the specification, in which when each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 in the substituent represented by the general formula (1) represents a hydrogen atom, a distance between an oxygen atom of —OR.sup.1 and an oxygen atom of —OR.sup.2 is 1.31 Å or more and 4.70 Å or less, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed of the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet comprising the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer.

Embodiments provide methods of disassembling an apparel product. The methods include exposing an adhesive of the apparel product to a composition having an acidic pH. The adhesive is disposed at least partially between a major component and a minor component of the apparel product. The adhesive includes a material having a boronate ester bond. The major component forms a base portion of the apparel product and is configured to be supported and worn at least partially over a portion of a wearer. The minor component forms a secondary portion configured to be coupled to the major component with the adhesive. The methods include separating the major component from the minor component adjoined by the adhesive.

Embodiments provide methods of disassembling an apparel product. The methods include exposing an adhesive of the apparel product to a composition having an acidic pH. The adhesive is disposed at least partially between a major component and a minor component of the apparel product. The adhesive includes a material having a boronate ester bond. The major component forms a base portion of the apparel product and is configured to be supported and worn at least partially over a portion of a wearer. The minor component forms a secondary portion configured to be coupled to the major component with the adhesive. The methods include separating the major component from the minor component adjoined by the adhesive.

Embodiments provide apparel products having boronate adhesives. The apparel products include a major component forming a base portion of the apparel product. The major component is configured to be supported and worn at least partially over a portion of a wearer. The apparel product includes a minor component forming a secondary portion configured to be coupled to the major component. An adhesive is disposed at least partially between a portion of the major component and a portion of the minor component. The adhesive includes a boronate ester bond.

Embodiments provide apparel products having boronate adhesives. The apparel products include a major component forming a base portion of the apparel product. The major component is configured to be supported and worn at least partially over a portion of a wearer. The apparel product includes a minor component forming a secondary portion configured to be coupled to the major component. An adhesive is disposed at least partially between a portion of the major component and a portion of the minor component. The adhesive includes a boronate ester bond.

A copolymer includes a repeating unit represented by Formula (I); and a repeating unit represented by Formula (II), in Formula (I), R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and having at least one fluorine atom as a substituent, or a group including Si(R.sup.a3)(R.sup.a4)O; L represents a divalent linking group as defined herein; and R.sup.a3 and R.sup.a4 each independently represent an alkyl group as defined herein, in Formula (II), R.sup.10 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; R.sup.11 and R.sup.12 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group; R.sup.11 and R.sup.12 may be linked to each other; and X.sup.1 represents a divalent linking group.

A copolymer includes a repeating unit represented by Formula (I); and a repeating unit represented by Formula (II), in Formula (I), R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and having at least one fluorine atom as a substituent, or a group including Si(R.sup.a3)(R.sup.a4)O; L represents a divalent linking group as defined herein; and R.sup.a3 and R.sup.a4 each independently represent an alkyl group as defined herein, in Formula (II), R.sup.10 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; R.sup.11 and R.sup.12 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group; R.sup.11 and R.sup.12 may be linked to each other; and X.sup.1 represents a divalent linking group.

A pattern article comprising a copolymer having polymerized units derived from a cleavable crosslinking monomer, to which a pattern is imparted by the release of incipient acid from a thermal acid generator or photoacid generator. The selective release of the acid provides a pattern of high crosslink density and low crosslink density as result of the incipient acid cleaving a portion of the crosslinks.

A pattern article comprising a copolymer having polymerized units derived from a cleavable crosslinking monomer, to which a pattern is imparted by the release of incipient acid from a thermal acid generator or photoacid generator. The selective release of the acid provides a pattern of high crosslink density and low crosslink density as result of the incipient acid cleaving a portion of the crosslinks.

A copolymer includes a repeating unit represented by Formula (I); and a repeating unit represented by Formula (II), in Formula (I), R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and having at least one fluorine atom as a substituent, or a group including Si(R.sup.a3)(R.sup.a4)O; L represents a divalent linking group as defined herein; and R.sup.a3 and R.sup.a4 each independently represent an alkyl group as defined herein, in Formula (II), R.sup.10 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; R.sup.11 and R.sup.12 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group; R.sup.11 and R.sup.12 may be linked to each other; and X.sup.1 represents a divalent linking group.