The article discusses how key variables affect hot tack of emulsion polymers. Heat-sealing is an operation used widely in the production of flexible packaging;
by which thermoplastic films or coatings are welded together under the action of heat. The final strength of the formed joints is obtained at room temperature after cooling. However;
the formed joints may also be loaded when they are not completely cooled down and have not yet reached their final strength. The use of waterborne dispersion technology for adhesives has some distinct advantages over other (homogeneous) technologies. While this is well recognized in the pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) area;
in heat- sealing applications solvent-based technology is still common. The copolymers discussed in this paper were prepared via a two-stage emulsion polyrnerisation process;
leading to what is termed a core-shell structure. The first phase (shell) makes up 20%-30% of the total polymeric solids of the system and acts as a polymeric stabilizer for the second phase (core);