“ADDED VALUE” WITH PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVES
Benno Blickenstorfer, Technology Manager, Collano AG, Sempach-Station, Switzerland
Andreas Dobmann, Technology Manager, Collano AG, Sempach-Station, Switzerland
Abstract
In many ways, pressure sensitive adhesives applied to a carrier are already an “added value” to the
substrate, be it paper, film, foam, textile or nonwoven. The subject of this talk goes beyond this stage
and shows possibilities where the adhesive does more than just stick. With innovative adhesive systems
the coated product can:
- carry information
- be used as tracing media
- be used as a security device
- act as detection media
- discharge electricity
- act as delivery system for direct skin contact products
- act as physico-chemical barrier
Products, methods and applications for pressure sensitive adhesives with added value will be presented.
Introduction
The manufacturing of self-adhesive material with pressure sensitive adhesives is made with the three well
known technologies of water- or solventbased adhesives and hot melt adhesives. The newer technology of
liquid, reactive 100% solid systems show growing success in special niche applications. The carrier
material coated with pressure sensitive adhesive gives an added value. The following talk shows examples,
possibilities and ideas how pressure sensitive adhesives can be modified to give, besides adhesion, a
further added value.
Carrying information
Small, colored multi-layer particles can be added to pressure sensitive adhesives [Fig.1]. The
combination of the individual color layers is absolutely unique. The PSA coated product therefore
receives a tracing information that depending on the application can be defined: e.g. for the
manufacturer, the customer, the product or a individual production batch. The added particles have to be
dispersed homogeneously and the added quantity determines a certain level of security expressed as
particles/area. Under normal conditions these particles are not visible, they can be detected with a simple
microscope with 100x magnification. In general the colored particles can be added to all adhesive
technologies, with liquid systems the viscosity has to be considered to avoid sedimentation.
[Fig. 1] Colored particle in a Trace Tag
The adhesive as security device
Security labels and security tapes which leave a defined residue upon removal or tampering, usually a
ink transfer, are manufactured in a costly process. In many cases the hidden printings are visible and can
be copied easily. With the pattern curing concept, UV curable adhesives can be coated in a way that they
exhibit different adhesive profiles. A tape made in such a way gives partial adhesive transfer upon
removal.
How does Pattern Curing work?
UV-curable PSA’s show different adhesion profiles depending on their degree of cure. Fig.2 gives a
typical example, high cohesion with high UV dose and high adhesion with low UV dose.
Peel-24h/ Loop Tack SAFT (°C)
(N/25mm) 1000g / 1sq.inch
29 175
27
150
25
23 125
Peel-24h
21 100 Loop Tack
19 SAFT
75
17
15 50
0.016 0.032 0.064 0.128
UV dose 250-260 nm (J/cm2)
Fig.2 Adhesive properties as function of the degree of cure
(Formulated UV-curable acrylic hot melt, 40 gsm).
The combination of these different properties in one adhesive layer can be achieved with relatively easy
process [Fig.3]. The carrier material is coated with the UV curable adhesive and has to be covered with a
UV transparent release liner before curing. To achieve the pattern curing effect, the pattern has to be
printed on the backside of the liner with a UV absorbing ink. The exposure of this laminate to the UV
radiation will transfer the printed pattern into the adhesive layer.
Backside printed UV bulbs
release liner
uncured
adhesive
„Pattern Cured“
Adhesive
Slot-die
coating
Carrier material
Fig.3 Web process for Pattern Curing
The following example shows a pattern, which can be printed on the back of a release liner with a UV
absorbing, invisible ink. The manufactured tape gives no indication to the imbedded security feature, it
will only reveal, as a partial adhesive transfer, when peeled.
A pattern cured adhesive can be used for brand protection or for theft protection of textiles. The label is
equipped with the pattern cured pressure sensitive adhesive, upon removal parts of the low cured
adhesive remains on the textile. Furthermore the adhesive is modified with a optical brightener and the
residue can easily be detected with a UV lamp. In case of the brand protection, the residue has to be
visible with or without the label. In case of theft protection the presence or absence of the residue can be
used to determine the owner of the product [Fig.4]. With a further modification the adhesive residue on
the textile will wash off after purchase.
Fig. 4 Pattern curing in theft protection
Discharge of static electricity
Electronic materials and components have to be protected from electric surges during storage and
transport. Therefore packaging and labeling require special attention. Newer additives give pressure
sensitive adhesives conductive properties which are sufficient to discharge static electricity. The additive
changes the adhesion properties only slightly, they do not discolor the adhesive and its transparency
remains. Presently we can achieve a conductivity of 5.9x10-13 Ω-1cm-1 and a surface conductivity of
3.0x10-10 Ω-1.
Adhesive as delivery system for direct skin contact products
Pressure sensitive adhesives are widely used in products which are in direct skin contact. In the last few
years hot melt adhesives have gained on importance for plasters, tapes or surgical drapes. The
“substrate” skin has special requirements: adhesion in wet and dry conditions, compatibility with the
skin, residue free removal, air- and moisture permeability. Especially regarding moisture transmission
water based or UV-curable acrylic systems show interesting properties. With rubber based systems the
transmission can be improved with hydrophilic additives:
Table 1 Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (MVTR)
MVTR
Raw material base
(80 g/m2 film thickness)
Acrylic 200-800 g/m2/day
Rubber 20-40 g/m2/day
Hydrophilic modified rubber up to 200 g/m2/day
With UV curable acrylic hot melt adhesives properties are achieved that are comparable common
solvent based adhesives. Besides the standard adhesion/cohesion performance special attention requires
the adhesion to skin, which is evaluated in an extensive testing cycle. Results in Fig. 5 show the UV
curable adhesive compared to a commercially available solvent based acrylic plaster. The test materials
where applied by 11 persons to finger and hand in a blind test. The performance of the adhesive was
observed and judged according to a defined schema. The results indicate that suitably formulated UV
acrylics can match or exceed the skin adhesion performance of solvent based products.
Skin Adhesion Test
UV-curable Acrylic HM
Solvent based Acylic
1. Initial adhesion (20 min.)
5.0
4.5
4.0
8. General opinion 3.5 2. Time to fall off
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
7. Skin irritation 0.0 3. Moisture resistance
6. Adhesive residue 4. Penetration
5. Discoloration
Fig. 5 Skin adhesion of formulated UV-curable acrylic hot melt vs. solvent based acrylic
The fact that the adhesive is in direct contact with the skin, can be utilized to deliver special skin care
products. Considering their thermal stability the substances can be formulated into hot melt adhesives.
Especially suitable are low melting adhesives which are processed below 100°C. Products that can be
blended include herbs or vegetable extracts and substances that provide a heating or cooling effect.
Interesting possibilities offers the fact that e.g. Salicylic acid shows different release rates depending on
the adhesive formulation.
Adhesive as physical – chemical barrier
To avoid spreading of fires, components and materials in the transportation sector should exhibit very
low or reduced flammability. Especially in the aircraft and passenger ship construction and increasingly
the automotive industry. Usually a certain part e.g. PSA coated insulation, a carpet or a PSA tape has to
pass the applicable standards. The adhesive manufacturer is faced with the challenge to combine the
adhesion/cohesion requirements with flame retardant properties. Newer, more demanding standards and
testing methods call for new systems and alternative technologies. Suitably modified adhesives give the
added value of a physical-chemical barrier.
Often adhesives are applied and cover the full area, already providing a certain barrier. To achieve the
contrary, the combination of a pressure sensitive adhesive with a slit heat seal adhesive film opens
interesting opportunities. After the extrusion the slits are cut into the heat seal film, then the pressure
sensitive adhesive can be coated, preferably in a pattern. This product can then be placed in press forms
or on parts where it adheres with the PSA. In a later processing step, the slits are opened under a heat
source and the final bond can be made. The resulting composite shows excellent air- and moisture
transmission.
Slits
before....
and after heat
exposure
Fig. 6 Principle of Slit Films
Outlook
The importance of pressure sensitive adhesives with “Added Value” will increase over the next few
years, especially in areas like security and medical. Developments in the raw material market enable
adhesive manufacturers to continuously modify the properties of their products. With intensive,
application oriented research and development new ideas, technologies and products will continue to be
provided to customers.
Literature:
[1] Christelle Matijasic, Pattern curing of UV-PSAs, RadTech Report Vol. 16 No. 4
September/October 2002
[2] Hans-Joachim Studt, Buxtehude, Fachvortrag zum Thema: Vielseitigkeit von der Rolle:
Heissklebefolien. www.collano.com
