ABSTRACT: Pressure Sensitive Adhesives (PSA’s) are adhesives which forms a bond when pressure is applied between the adhesive and the adhered (substrate). PSA is tacky at room temperature and requires no activation by water, solvent or heat to form a strong bond. Glass transition temperature (Tg) of the adhesive is well below the room temperature. They are used in variety of applications include pressure-sensitive tapes, labels, post-it notes, display and graphic films etc. Different types of PSA’s include rubber based and acrylic based chemistries. The performance of the PSA is directly related to the viscoelastic behavior of the adhesives.
Presentation gives an overview of PSA’s and also PSA’s as a 3M Core Technology Platform. Also, discusses different types PSA’s – polymeric materials, method of making them, key properties, rheology etc.
Bio-sketch: Dr. Prince Antony currently working as a senior scientist in 3M Canada Lab, London, ON since 2001. His 3M research area includes pressure sensitive adhesives and related product developments.
Dr. Antony received his Ph.D. degree in the field of Rubber Technology in 1999 from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur. He did his postdoctoral research at the Western university, London, ON in the field of Polymer Engineering and the main research focus was on the SIBS based block copolymer structure-property relationship and the rheology. His research expertise includes adhesion science and technology, polymer blends and processing, thermoplastic elastomers, ion-containing polymers, dynamic vulcanization, rubber compounding/reinforcement, polymer modification, viscoelastic properties of elastomers. He has published over 30 research papers in the international journals, a book chapter on Thermoplastic Elastomers and co-authored 11 patents.