Using Novel Emulsion-Based Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives in High-Performance Applications
New pressure-sensitive adhesives have been developed that can rival existing solvent acrylic and radiation-curable technologies used in high-performance tape and label applications.
Pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) have become more popular in demanding tape and label applications. Many high-performance PSA applications are dominated by solvent acrylic PSAs and radiation-curable PSAs because they can achieve much higher cohesive strength and heat resistance than other technologies, including typical emulsion PSAs. Due to these performance limitations, waterborne emulsion PSAs are used in less demanding applications.
Waterborne acrylic PSAs provide many advantages such as high solids, lower cost, low hazard, and environmental benefits. With these advantages, industry has been pushing the limits of emulsion technologies to close the performance gaps between emulsion and other high-performance technologies.