Adhesion Improvement of Solvent-Free Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives by Semi-IPN Using Polyurethanes and Acrylic...

Area of Science:

• Polymer Science
• Materials Science
• Adhesives Technology

Background:

• Polypropylene glycol (PPG)-based pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) often face limitations in peel strength and holding time.
• Traditional PSA fabrication methods can involve volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and residual solvents, leading to environmental concerns and property degradation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the peel strength and holding time of PPG-based PSAs.
• To develop an eco-friendly, solvent-free fabrication method for these PSAs.
• To investigate the effect of hard segment content on PSA properties.

Main Methods:

• A semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) was synthesized using acrylic polymers and PPG.
• The PSAs were fabricated using a solvent-free method with acrylic monomers.
• Different hard segment contents (2.9-17.2%) were achieved using a chain extender.

Main Results:

• The formation of the semi-IPN structure significantly improved peel strength.
• PSA holding time was found to be dependent on the hard segment content.
• Increased hard segment content led to enhanced hard domain formation and improved holding time.

Conclusions:

• The developed PPG-based semi-IPN PSAs offer superior peel strength and holding time.
• The solvent-free fabrication method addresses environmental concerns associated with VOCs and solvents.
• These advanced PSAs are suitable for applications demanding high creep resistance.