Tailoring the near-surface composition profiles of pressure-sensitive adhesive films and the resulting mechanical properties

Effect of Residue Acrylic Monomers in Synthesized Solvent-Free Photoreactive Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives on the Main Properties of Transfer Tapes Applied to Joining Wooden Elements

This publication describes the influence of residue monomers in synthesized pressure-sensitive adhesives based on acrylics on their main properties-tack, peel adhesion, shear strength and shrinkage-in the form of transfer tapes used for joining wooden elements in the furniture industry. The discussed carrier-free adhesive tapes are synthesized via photo-crosslinking and photopolymerization with UV radiation of the photoreactive prepolymers sandwiched between two adhesive siliconized polyester films. The simultaneous crosslinking and polymerization processes carried out under UV lamps placed simultaneously above and below the crosslinked photoreactive polymer layer lead to the production of a carrier-free adhesive film. The preliminary target of these studies was to investigate how the intensity of UV radiation and the time of its exposure affect the viscosity of the photoreactive compositions and the content of unreacted monomers in them. Next, the influence of the crosslinking agent concentration and UV irradiation time on the content of unreacted monomers after the crosslinking process was tested. The last step of the studies was the investigation of the influence of the residue monomer concentration on the application properties of the obtained pressure-sensitive adhesive layers. The typical PSA application properties were tested on the wood samples: tack, peel adhesion, shear strength (cohesion) and shrinkage.

Adhesion strength and viscoelastic properties of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based elastomeric nanocomposites with embedded electrospun nanofibers

In the present study, the adhesive and viscoelastic properties of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based nanocomposite pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) with embedded electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers as fillers were investigated. PDMS nanocomposite adhesive films using PAN and PVA nanofibers were synthesized by dispersing fillers in the matrix by a solvent mixing process. The adhesion strength and reusability of the prepared nanocomposite PSA films were measured using peel tests as the fraction of nanofibers in the polymer matrix is increased. The variations of the adhesive properties of the PSAs as function of the type and loading of filler were related to their rheological properties in terms of shear and elastic moduli. Although 3-fold enhancement of the adhesion strength was achieved with 0.5 wt% loading for both types (PAN and PVA) of nanocomposites as compared to elastic PDMS, the composite adhesive with PAN nanofibers can provide a superior balance of rheological properties, resulting in improved reusability over other PSAs. The differences in the adhesion and viscoelastic properties of the composite PSAs are attributed to the polymer chemistry, processability, and architecture of the electrospun nanofibers in the soft PDMS matrix.

Adhesive–adherent interfaces probed with grazing-incidence small-angle neutron scattering

The inner structure of a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) is investigated at the surface as well as at the buried adhesive–adherent interface. Time-of-flight grazing-incidence small-angle neutron scattering (TOF-GISANS) is used to obtain depth-resolved structural information about the statistical copolymer poly(ethylhexylacrylate-stat-d-methylmethacrylate), which represents a well studied model PSA comprising 80% ethylhexylacrylate and 20% deuterated methylmethacrylate. Small and rare defects of around 40 nm in lateral size are found at the surface, while in the probed film volume a very low concentration of smaller structures of between 25 and 37 nm is found. Acidic and basic cleaning procedures are applied to the silicon adherent to alter the surface chemistry. At the buried interface of the adhesive and adherent no lateral structures are resolvable, irrespective of the surface treatment. The absence of dominant lateral structures shows that the statistical copolymer does not phase separate on a length scale that is of interest for applications. Furthermore, the findings prove the suitability of this kind of sample system for reflectivity measurements and demonstrate the suitability of TOF-GISANS for nondestructive investigations of buried interfaces in adhesion science.

Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives under the Influence of Relative Humidity: Inner Structure and Failure Mechanisms

Model pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) films of the statistical copolymer P(EHA-stat-20MMA), which comprises 80% ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) and 20% methyl methacrylate (MMA), are studied. The PSA films are stored under different relative humidities from <2% to 96% for 24 h and subsequently investigated concerning the near-surface composition profile by measuring X-ray reflectivity (XRR) and tack performance. For both types of measurements, special custom-made sample environments are used, which ensure constant temperature and relative humidity during the XRR and tack measurements. Different failure mechanisms of the adhesive bond are found by adjusting the relative humidity. XRR measurements evidence enrichment layers in vicinity to and at the surface depending on the provided relative humidity during the postproduction treatment, which also influence the tack performance. This finding is supported by tack measurements using punches with different roughness.

MoS₂ nanoplatelet fillers for enhancement of the properties of waterborne pressure-sensitive adhesives

Nanocomposite pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) composed of polyurethane (PU)/(meth)acrylates reinforced with MoS2 nanoplatelets were prepared by blending aqueous dispersions. MoS2 crystals were exfoliated by sonication in water in the presence of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP, molecular weight of 10,000 g mol(-1)) to prepare an aqueous dispersion. Waterborne colloidal polymer particles (latex) were synthesized by miniemulsion photopolymerization in a continuous tubular reactor. The adhesive and mechanical properties from the resulting nanocomposite films were determined as the MoS2 fraction was increased. A superior balance of viscoelastic properties was achieved with 0.25 wt % loading of the MoS2 nanoplatelets, leading to a tack adhesion energy that was three times greater than that for the original PSA.

Large-area patterning of the tackiness of a nanocomposite adhesive by sintering of nanoparticles under IR radiation

We present a simple technique to switch off the tack adhesion in selected areas of a colloidal nanocomposite adhesive. It is made from a blend of soft colloidal polymer particles and hard copolymer nanoparticles. In regions that are exposed to IR radiation, the nanoparticles sinter together to form a percolating skeleton, which hardens and stiffens the adhesive. The tack adhesion is lost locally. Masks can be made from silicone-coated disks, such as coins. Under the masks, adhesive island regions are defined with the surrounding regions being a nontacky coating. When optimizing the nanocomposite's adhesive properties, the addition of the hard nanoparticles raises the elastic modulus of the adhesive significantly, but adhesion is not lost because the yield point remains relatively low. During probe-tack testing, the soft polymer phases yield and enable fibrillation. After heating under IR radiation, the storage modulus increases by a factor of 5, and the yield point increases nearly by a factor of 6, such that yielding and fibrillation do not occur in the probe-tack testing. Hence, the adhesion is lost. Loading and unloading experiments indicate that a rigid skeleton is created when the nanoparticles sinter together, and it fractures under moderate strains. This patterning method is relatively simple and fast to execute. It is widely applicable to other blends of thermoplastic hard nanoparticles and larger soft particles.

Convection-assisted assembly of cellulose nanowhiskers embedded in an acrylic copolymer

Ultrathin films containing a high fraction of cellulose nanowhiskers embedded in an acrylic-based polymer matrix were successfully prepared by a shear-convective assembly method. Their morphological, chemical and physical properties were examined by AFM Peak Force Tapping, Ellipsometry, contact angle and X-ray photoelectronic spectroscopy (XPS). Smooth, stable, robust and hydrophobic ultrathin films were obtained. The processing conditions influence, to different extents, the organization and morphology of the resulting ultrathin films. Under the given experimental conditions, films with highly packed and oriented cellulose nanowhiskers were obtained. A post-treatment based on UV-curing allows a further enhancement of the stability of the films without impacting any other property.

Switching off the tackiness of a nanocomposite adhesive in 30 s via infrared sintering

Soft adhesives require an optimum balance of viscous and elastic properties. Adhesion is poor when the material is either too solidlike or too liquidlike. The ability to switch tack adhesion off at a desired time has many applications, such as in recycling, disassembly of electronics, and painless removal of wound dressings. Here, we describe a new strategy to switch off the tack adhesion in a model nanocomposite adhesive in which temperature is the trigger. The nanocomposite comprises hard methacrylic nanoparticles blended with a colloidal dispersion of soft copolymer particles. At relatively low volume fractions, the nanoparticles (50 nm diameter) accumulate near the film surface, where they pack around the larger soft particles (270 nm). The viscoelasticity of the nanocomposite is adjusted via the nanoparticle concentration. When the nanocomposite is heated above the glass transition temperature of the nanoparticles (T(g) = 130 °C), they sinter together to create a rigid network that raises the elastic modulus at room temperature. The tackiness is switched off. Intense infrared radiation is used to heat the nanocomposites, leading to a fast temperature rise. Tack adhesion is switched off within 30 s in optimized compositions. These one-way switchable adhesives have the potential to be patterned through localized heating.

Structure and macroscopic tackiness of ultrathin pressure sensitive adhesive films

Ultrathin layers of the statistical copolymer P(nBA-stat-MA) with a majority of n-butyl acrylate (nBA) and a minority of methyl acrylate (MA) are characterized with respect to the film morphology and the mechanical response in a probe tack test. The probed copolymer can be regarded as a model system of a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA). The films are prepared by spin-coating which enables an easy thickness control via the polymer concentration of the solution. The film thickness is determined with x-ray reflectivity (XRR) and white light interferometry (WLI). Grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering (GISAXS) provides detailed and statistically significant information about the film morphology. Two types of lateral structures are identified and no strong correlation of these structures with the PSA film thickness is observed. In contrast, prominent parameters of the probe tack test, such as the stress maximum and the tack energy, exhibit an exponential dependence on the film thickness.