Acrylate-based water-dispersible or water-soluble pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes

A review was presented of the author's and his collaborator's work from the ''Lohmann'' company in the field of development, investigation and application of various types of acrylate-based pressure-sensitive tapes of two main types, namely the water-dispersible and water-soluble tapes. Such tapes are used primarily in the paper industry as spliced connections of bale ends. The use of such tapes permits a complete recycling of the production scrap and waste paper. Three kinds of water-dispersible pressure-sensitive tapes were discussed, namely one-sided and double-sided tapes and tapes without a carrier. The methods of polymerization of acrylate materials used for coating the pressure-sensitive tapes were discussed and rules of selection of monomers and reaction medium to prepare polymers with high molecular weight were given. For crosslinking the acrylate pressure-sensitive adhesive materials the following types of crosslinkers are used: metallic chelates, esters of orthometallic acids, isocyanates, amino resins and polysubstituted epoxide resins - characteristic features and fields of application of these crosslinkers were discussed.