Tack properties of methyl methacrylate 2-ethylhexyl acrylate emulsion copolymers: Influence of the polymerisation process

With the aim of designing inherently tacky macromolecular structures, emuls ion free-radical copolymerisations of methyl methacrylate and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate were achieved. Indeed, such comonomers should give materials cohes ive and adhesive enough to behave as suitable Pressure Sensitive Adhesives. Kinetic studies of the comonomers consumption and evaluations of cohesion and tack allowed to study the influence of the process on the composition o f the dispersed particles on the one hand and on the properties of the coal esced latexes on the other. With regard to the tack properties, the release mechanisms ranged from outright to progressive fibrillationwise failure.