This document discusses tackifiers, which are additives used in adhesives to improve tack and bonding. It describes how tackifiers work on a molecular level to enhance mobility and provide anchor points. The document outlines different types of tackifier chemistries, including rosin derivatives, hydrocarbons, and terpenes. It also examines the effect of tackifiers in formulations like EVA, acrylates, and synthetic rubbers. Dynamical mechanical analysis is presented as a way to measure the impact of tackifiers and plasticizers.

1. Tackifiers in adhesives
(teaser)
Dr Evert Smit
December 2009

2. Content
• Introduction Arizona Chemical
• Tackifiers
– Their action – looking at molecular scale
– Chemistries
– Effect in formulations
– DMA
• Conclusions

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Chemical

5. Introduction
• What is a tackifier ?
• What does it do ?
• How does it do this?

6. Introduction:
What is a tackifier ?
• Low molecular weight material
(resin) (Mn 300-2000)
• Compatible or partially compatible
with rubber/elastomer
or adhesive base polymer
• Has a Tg (glass transition
temperature) higher than that of the
rubber/elastomer or base polymer

7. Introduction:
What does a tackifier do ?
• The tackifier modifies the adhesive
polymer matrix
1. It (partly) breaks up the existing structure
 Enhances the mobility,
thus enhances the tack
size effect depends on compatibility
2. Increases adhesive force by providing “anchor
points” for specific adhesion and bridging
– almost like a surfactant
– Again, compatibility is key
3. But also increases the Tg of the formulated
adhesive (=tackifier+polymer+additives)

8. Effect depends on amount
Example: hotmelt

9. Tackifying Resins
• Types of Tackifying Resins
– Chemistry
– Characteristics

10. Tackifying Resins – Types
• Rosin derivatives
– Pure
– Dispersion
• Hydrocarbons
– C5, C9, C5/C9, AMS
• Terpenes
– Polymerised
– Styrenated
– Phenolated

11. Tackifying resins based on rosin
• Bonding
– The molecule has 2 distinct areas
CH3
• Lipophilic
enabling embedding in apolar areas
CH3
CH3
• Polar
for interaction with the
adhesive polymer
HO2 C

12. Tackifying Resins –
Hydrocarbon Resins
• Chemistry
– Aliphatic C5
• cis, trans 1,3-Pentadiene, cyclopentene,
cyclopentadiene
• -C=C- and –C=C-C=C- functionality
• (Non) low polar
• ‘like like’ compatibility

13. Tackifying Resins – Terpenes
• Chemistry
– Terpene phenols
– α-Pinene, β-pinene, d-Limonene + phenol
– -C=C- functionality
– Aliphatic, polar (-OH) nature

14. Effect of Tackifiers in Formulations
• EVA
– Typically packaging & non-woven
• Acrylates
– Solvent based
– Dispersions
• Block copolymers
– SBS
– SIS
– … not yet: OBC / metallocenes

15. Synthetic Rubber
Styrene Mid-Block Styrene
Styrene End-blocks
•Sharp, crystalline melt point
•Allows for melt processing
•Provides cohesive strength
Mid-blocks
•Soft, flexible
•Elastomeric
•Readily tackified

16. SIS Adhesive
Room Temperature Shear
350
300
250
100C polyterpene
200 100C rosin ester
minutes
150 C5 hydrocarbon
95C terpene phenol
100
50
0

17. DMA
How to measure the effect of a tackifier and a
plasticiser ?
• Measure tack, peel and shear performance
– Generates real-life numbers
Or
• Dynamical Mechanical Analysis
– Makes molecular interactions visible
– Helps to predict adhesive performance
and processability

18. Contact Details
Dr Evert Smit
Technical Leader Adhesives
Arizona Chemical
Transistorstraat 16
1322 CE Almere
The Netherlands
Mobile: +31 653 29 50 32
Office: +31 36 54 62 924
evert.smit@azchem.com
http://www.arizonachemical.com