Effect of molecular weight of epoxidized‐natural rubber on viscosity and tack of pressure‐sensitive adhesives

The effect of molecular weight of rubber on viscosity and loop tack of rubber‐adhesives were studied using two grades of epoxidized‐natural rubber, i.e., ENR 25 and ENR 50. Coumarone–indene resin, gum rosin, and petro resin were used as tackifiers. Toluene was used as the solvent throughout the experiment. The adhesive was coated on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate using a SHEEN hand coater. Viscosity was determined by a HAAKE Rotary Viscometer, whereas loop tack was measured by a Llyod Adhesion Tester operating at 10 cm/min. Results show that viscosity increases gradually upto a critical molecular weight of 6.8 × 10⁴ and 3.9 × 10⁴ for ENR 25 and ENR 50, respectively, before a rapid increase in viscosity is observed. Loop tack indicates maximum value at the respective critical molecular weights for the three tackifiers investigated suggesting the culmination of wettability. For both rubbers, loop tack increases with coating thickness due to the concentration effect of adhesive. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010