Application of Adhesion Model for Developing Hot Melt Adhesives Bonded to Polyolefin Surfaces

Abstract We have found that the adhesive strength, P, of hot melt adhesives (HMAs) based on semi-crystalline polymers can be described by the following equation:1 P = P 0 BD previously derived for tack of pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs).2,3 In this equation, P 0 is the interfacial adhesion between the adhesive and the substrate, B is the bonding term, and D is the debonding term. This adhesion model is then applied to the development of HMA formulations based on Exxon Chemical's olefinic polymers and Escorez® tackifiers, bonded to Escorene® polypropylene and polyethylene substrate surfaces. Two olefinic polymers, Escorene® EVA polymer (ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer) and Exact TM polymer, will be used. EVA polymer is the industrial leader in HMA applications, whereas Exact TM polymer is a new family of linear ethylene copolymer products made using a new class of proprietary catalysts. Therefore, performance of HMAs based on EVA polymer and Exact TM polymer is compared in the context of the P 0, B, a...