High Strength SIS Polymers for Hot Melt Adhesives, 1991 Hot Melt Symposium Proceedings

Styrenic block copolymers (SBCs) are being used in increasing amounts in hot melt adhesives for disposables, bookbinding, and carton sealing. Such systems combine low viscosity, high cohesive strength, and high heat resistance, while also providing good adhesion to a wide variety of surfaces. In the past such adhesives have typically been based on high strength styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) polymers. This paper outlines the inherent polymer property differences between SBCs with polyisoprene versus polybutadiene elastomeric midblocks, and describes the development of a new family of high strength styrene- soprene-styrene (SIS) polymers, which have been specifically designed to meet the demanding needs of these non-pressure sensitive adhesive applications. Further, it will be shown that a combination of two of these SIS polymers, in the same adhesive formulation, can open up new opportunities for tailoring the balance of adhesive performance properties to meet the needs of a specific application.