Adhesion properties of pressure-sensitive adhesives prepared from SMR 10/ENR 25, SMR 10/ENR 50, and ENR 25/ENR 50 blends

The adhesion properties, i.e. viscosity, tack, and peel strength of pressure-sensitive adhesives prepared from natural rubber/epoxidized natural rubber blends were investigated using coumarone-indene resin and toluene as the tackifier and solvent respectively. One grade of natural rubber (SMR 10) and two grades of epoxidized natural rubbers (ENR 25 and ENR 50) were used to prepare the rubber blends with blend ratio ranging from 0 to 100%. Coumarone-indene resin content was fixed at 40 parts per hundred parts of rubber (phr) in the adhesive formulation. The viscosity of adhesive was measured by a HAAKE Rotary Viscometer whereas loop tack and peel strength was determined using a Lloyd Adhesion Tester operating at 30 cm/min. Results show that the viscosity of the adhesive passes through a minimum value at 20% blend ratio. For loop tack and peel strength, it indicates a maximum at 60% blend ratio for SMR 10/ENR 25 and SMR 10/ENR 50 systems. However, for ENR 25/ENR 50 blend, maximum value is observed at 80% blend ratio. SMR 10/ENR 25 blend consistently exhibits the best adhesion property in this study, an observation which is attributed to the optimum compatibility between rubbers and wettability of adhesive on the substrate. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008