Sustainable Acrylic Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives with High-Temperature Resistance and Reusability

The development of sustainable pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) derived from renewable resources is critical for reducing environmental impact and advancing carbon neutrality goals. However, achieving high biobased content often compromises key properties such as temperature resistance and mechanical durability. Herein, we report a sustainable acrylic PSA with approximately 50% biobased content, synthesized from renewable lauryl methacrylate (LMA) and tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate (THFMA), along with petroleum-derived 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). By incorporating the functional monomer GMA and subsequently cross-linking with aluminum acetylacetonate (AlACA), the adhesive properties were effectively tailored. The optimized PSA containing 10 wt % GMA exhibits a balanced performance with a tack of #5 steel ball, an outstanding shear time of 303 h at 25 °C (and 214.5 h at 80 °C), and a 180° peel strength of 7.7 N/25 mm. Furthermore, the PSA demonstrates exceptional high-temperature tolerance, retaining 75% of its peel strength after 24 h at 120 °C, along with excellent solvent resistance upon immersion in various chemicals. It also maintains 33% of its initial adhesion strength after 50 bonding-debonding cycles. Practical repair tests on diverse damaged materials further confirm its broad applicability. This work presents a sustainable, high-temperature resistant PSA alternative that supports the transition toward a circular economy.