Elastomer-Based Radiation Curable Pressure Sensitive Adhesives, 2000 Hot Melt Symposium Proceedings

Martine Dupont, Michael Masse--Radiation curable elastomers broaden the conventional range of applications of styrenic block copolymers to specialty, high performing tapes. Pressure sensitive adhesives combining temperature resistance above 160°C and good adhesion properties on a wide range of substrates, including polyolefins, were indeed successfully developed with this family of polymers, when properly radiation cured.

Two types of KRATON(TM) products are currently available for this purpose. KRATON D-KX222C, a unique, high vinyl butadiene styrenic block copolymer, can be processed as a hot-melt, obeys the same formulation principles as conventional styrenic block copolymers, and results in similar adhesion properties to conventional SBS and SIS based adhesives. KRATON Liquid Polymers are a new class of reactive, hydrogenated anionic polymers. They do not contain styrenic end-blocks and are cured via a cationic mechanism. They offer warm melt coating possibilities, improved weathering resistance and homogeneous cure through very thick coatings. It is shown here that both products can be successfully cured either by UV or EB radiation. They therefore offer formulators the opportunity to chose a curing method to suit their equipment when producing PSA formulations for high performance tape and label applications such as masking, mounting or industrial tapes, and labels for laser printing.