Formulating Goals of Energy-Curable Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives
This article examines the basics of formulating energy-curable PSAs with specific end properties in mind.
However, there are limitations inherent to hot-melt PSAs, such as insufficient high-temperature resistance and low chemical resistance, which may be attributed to the thermoplastic nature of the hot-melt adhesives. To combat these issues, the molecules in a PSA need to have crosslinking tendencies that bring about the necessity of energy-curable adhesives. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation energy or electron beams are used to initiate the chemical process that results in the three-dimensional crosslinked network of monomers and oligomer. These energy-curable adhesives can be either hot-melts or room-temperature liquids. RAHN USA has done extensive work studying the tendencies and developing starting point formulations for the latter two. This article examines the basics of formulating these adhesives with a specific end property in the mind of the formulator.