Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.71, No.4, 651-663, 1999
Miscibility and pressure-sensitive adhesive performances of acrylic copolymer and hydrogenated rosin systems
Relationship between the miscibility of pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) acrylic copolymer/hydrogenated rosin systems and their performance (180 degrees peel strength, probe tack, and holding power), which was measured over a wide range of time and temperature, were investigated. The miscible range of the blend system tended to become smaller as the molecular weight of the tackifier increased. In the case of miscible blend systems, the viscoelastic properties (such as the storage modulus and the loss modulus) shifted toward higher temperature or toward lower frequency and, at the same time, the pressure-sensitive adhesive performance shifted toward the lower rate side as the T-g of the blend increased. In the case of acrylic copolymer/hydrogenated rosin acid systems, a somewhat unusual trend was observed in the relationship among the phase diagram, T-g, and the pressure-sensitive adhesive performance. T-g of the blend was higher than that expected from T(g)s of the pure components. This trend can be due to the presence of free carboxyl group in the tackifier resin. However, the phase diagram depended on the molecular weight of the tackifier. The pressure-sensitive adhesive performance depended on the viscoelastic properties of the bulk phase. A few systems where a single T-g could be measured, despite the fact that two phases were observed microscopically, were found. The curve of the probe tack of this system shifted toward a lower rate side as the T-g increases. However, both the curve of the peel strength and the holding power of such system did not shift along the rate axis.
Keywords:TACKIFIER RESIN SYSTEMS;TACK