For pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) composed of poly(co-ethyl acrylate-2-ethylhexyl acrylate-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) as a base resin and polyisocyanate as a crosslinker, the relationship between the crosslinking reaction and peel strength was investigated. A 90°peel test of cured PSA films under various storage conditions was carried out. At the same time, the isocyanate (NCO) consumption in these PSA films was monitored by attenuated total reflectance/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The peel strength of the PSA compounded with the crosslinker decreased as the NCO groups were consumed. The elevation of the aging temperature promoted the crosslinking reaction and increased the decrement in the peel strength. The peel strength of noncrosslinked and crosslinked PSA films increased with the contact time. A high storage temperature made the increment in the peel strength increase. The addition of the crosslinker to the PSA films reduced the increment in the peel strength. Furthermore, PSA films with residual NCO groups possessed stronger peel strengths than fully cured films.

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ABSTRACT:The effect of humidity during storage on the crosslinking reactions of isocyanate groups was investigated with attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with pressure-sensitive adhesives composed of poly[ethyl acrylate-co-(2-ethylhexyl acrylate)-co-(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)] as a base resin and polyisocyanate as a crosslinker. A peak-resolving analysis of the amide II region revealed four bands. According to an analysis of the Fourier transform infrared spectra of the model compounds, these four bands were assigned to free urethane linkages, hydrogen-bonded urethane linkages, free urea linkages, and hydrogen-bonded urea linkages. As expected, storage under humid conditions led to the formation of free and hydrogen-bonded urea linkages corresponding to the promotion of isocyanate consumption. Peak resolution of the amide II region was found to be a reasonable way of monitoring urethane and urea linkages during crosslinking reactions.

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