Preparation and characterization of high solid content acrylate latex pressure sensitive adhesives with difunctional cross-linker EGDMA

Abstract

Cross-linked acrylate latex pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) were synthesized via unseeded semi-batch emulsion polymerization processes with butyl acrylate (BA), acrylic acid (AA), 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) and difunctional cross-linker, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). The influences of EGDMA on the comprehensive properties of the acrylate latex PSAs were investigated. The results indicated that both viscosity and particle size of the latexes were independent of the amount of EGDMA in the pre-emulsion feed when unseeded semi-batch emulsion polymerization process was employed. It was also found that water resistance of the latex PSA was improved with increasing EGDMA content, further confirmed by water contact angle measurements. DSC and TGA results showed that Tg of the copolymer was elevated, plus thermal stability was increased with introduction of EGDMA. Besides, with the increase of EGDMA content, the gel content of the polymer increased. Moreover, for the cross-linked adhesive film, the shear strength was improved greatly while at the sacrifice of loop tack and peel strength, when compared with the uncross-linked counterparts.