Self-Assembling Acrylic Block Copolymers for Enhanced Adhesives Properties
A new type of acrylic copolymer has been developed that features block structures and controlled functional group placement due to a controlled radical polymerization process.
Acrylic polymers are widely used in pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) applications in the form of emulsion, solvent or radiation-cured systems. They combine good UV resistance, transparency, tailored tack, and stiffness due to a large choice of acrylic and methacrylic comonomers.
Acrylic copolymers are produced through conventional free radical polymerization processes that lead to random structures with broad polydispersities. In addition, free radical polymerization does not allow for the introduction of functional groups at specific locations along the polymer chains. For adhesive applications, a key synthesis challenge is the optimization of the polymer composition and molecular weight to achieve low viscosities, good adhesion, and creep resistance.