Isosorbide-Based Acrylic Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives Through UV-Cured Crosslinking with a Balance Between Adhesion and Cohesion

Abstract

The development of sustainable pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) from natural biomass resources has attracted increasing attention owing to their non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable features. In this study, a bio-based acrylic PSA with tunable adhesion and cohesion was synthesized by a selective chemical modification of isosorbide-5-acrylate (IA) and its copolymerization with butyl acrylate and acrylic acid through UV-curing crosslinking. During the UV-curing process, the synthesized isosorbide diacrylate ester (IDAE) served as the crosslinker, effectively improving the crosslinking degree of PSA. The impact of IA and IDAE on the mechanical properties of PSA was studied. Moreover, to achieve a balance between adhesion and cohesion, the optimal composition was identified. The addition of IA significantly enhances the stiffness of PSA. Furthermore, the combined effect of IA and IDAE improves the overall adhesion properties of the PSA. The optimal bio-based PSA demonstrates a peel force of 13.9 N/25 mm and a persistent time of 6820 min, promising to replace traditional petroleum-based PSAs.