SURFACE CHARACTERIZATION OF PENTAERYTHRITOL ROSIN ESTER

Pentaerythritol rosin ester (PERE), which is used as a tackifier in so me adhesives, has been characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectrosco py (X.p.s.), secondary ion mass spectrometry (s.i.m.s.) and contact an gle measurements. X.p.s. indicates that the surface layer of PERE cons ists mainly of tri- and tetraester, and many peaks have been assigned in the s.i.m.s. spectra. The surface energy of PERE is quite low which is probably a factor in making it useful as a tackifier.