RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN ACRYLIC POLYMERS FOR LATEX PSAS

By relating adhesive and cohesive properties to chemical structure and molecular design, one company has developed a series of wate-borne acrylic pressure-sensitive polymers for a wide variety of adhesive applications. The performance characteristics of these latexes, as well as their modification through formulation, are discussed. The performance profiles of these products can be modified by formulation techniques involving latex blending and post addition of crosslinking agents. Because of the ability of acrylic latex PSA's to satisfy the needs imposed by current regulatory trends and to provide significant performance benefits, they are expected to penetrate solvent-based pressure-sensitive markets at an increasing rate.