An oriented heat-treated principal film capable of thermally-induced self-forming, including one or more (co)polymers and exhibiting a relaxation temperature (T.sub.r), the oriented heat-treated principal film having opposed first and second major faces, a land portion on the second major face and one or more modification zones on the second major face. A cross-linked (co)polymeric carrier layer is in contact with the first major face. Each modification zone includes a central closed portion and a rim portion surrounding the central closed portion and being surrounded by a land portion. An average thickness of each rim portion is greater than an average thickness of the land portion surrounding the central closed portion. An average thickness of each central closed portion is less than the average thickness of the land portion surrounding the central portion. Methods for making such films and adhesive articles comprising such films are also disclosed.

Described is a filament-bearing masking tape extending longitudinally and formed from and including a filament and a base tape having a first edge and a second edge parallel to the first edge. The base tape includes a carrier having upper and lower sides and extending longitudinally with a first adhesive on the lower side having a first adhesive thickness, and a second adhesive having a second adhesive thickness greater than the first adhesive thickness on the upper side, and a release liner attached to the second adhesive. The filament extends longitudinally, parallel to the first edge of the base tape, closer to the first edge than to the second edge.

A double sided adhesive masking Tape used for several applications involving Auto Body painting. This tape can be used from the preparation of the vehicle which includes priming, to the final stage which is the complete paint job.

Installers for elongate foam masking tape have an elongate body that has a spine opposite a fore edge, which are separated from one another by opposing exterior surfaces, and has a material that prevents adhesion of an adhesive on each of the opposing exterior surfaces at a position adjacent to the fore edge and extending the length of the elongate body. The installers are used to insert tubular foam masking tape in the gap between body panels of an automobile vehicle, for example, and to adhere the tubular foaming masking tape to the rear surface of the body panels prior to application of paint thereto. Methods of installing tubular foam masking tape between body panels using the installer are disclosed as well.

Method of applying an high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF)-resistant masking tape to the surface of a workpiece (112) such that multiple lengths of tape (116, 118) are abutted to one another to form butt joints (132), the butt joint (132) is then covered with additional lengths of tape (120).

A masking film includes an adhesion layer that includes at least one hydrogenated styrene block copolymer and an adhesive surface having a surface roughness (Sa) of greater than about 2.0 μm. An Adhesion Build Value of the masking film is less than about 2.0 after the adhesion layer has been attached to a textured polycarbonate substrate and heated to 85° C. for 30 minutes.

A multilayer tape is provided. A method of masking a surface is also provided. The multilayer tape includes an inner layer, at least one middle layer, and an outer carrier layer. The inner layer has a pair of parallel adhesive strips demarking an inner gap having a predetermined width. The middle layer is adhered to the inner layer and has a pair of parallel adhesive strips demarking a middle gap narrower than the inner gap. The outer carrier layer is adhered to the middle layer. The method includes applying a multilayer tape system to a surface and removing the outer carrier layer to expose a preselected gap width. The multilayer tape system includes an inner layer, at least one middle layer, and an outer carrier layer.

Presently described are polylactic acid polymer based films comprising a structured surface and articles. In one embodiment, the film comprises a semicrystalline polylactic acid polymer; a second polymer such as polyvinyl acetate polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of at least 25° C.; and plasticizer. Articles are also described such as a tape or sheet, comprising the structured PLA-based film and a layer of (e.g. pressure sensitive) adhesive disposed on the film. In some embodiments, the tape or sheet further comprises a low adhesion backsize or a release liner. The article can be suitable for various end-uses. In one embodiment, the tape is a paint masking tape. In another embodiment, the tape is a floor marking tape.

A tape (100) for masking a surface to be painted, comprising an elongate substrate (102) having a first surface (104) and an opposed second surface (106), a first adhesive portion (108) disposed on and extending partially across the first surface (104) from a first edge region (103) of the substrate, and a second adhesive portion (110) disposed on the second surface (106). A method of manufacturing a tape for masking a surface to be painted is also provided.

The invention is directed to masking tapes comprising reference lines that facilitate the use of adjacent edges or other linear features to place masking tape edges on irregular or curved boundaries between surfaces.