Electrically conductive pressure sensitive adhesives, method of manufacture, and use thereof

Abstract

An adhesive, comprising a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition; and carbon nanotubes in an amount effective to render the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition electrically conductive. Such adhesives are of particular use with gasketing materials.

Description

BACKGROUND This invention relates to electrically conductive pressure sensitive adhesives, methods of manufacture, and uses thereof. Electrically conductive materials, particularly elastomers and foams, are of utility in a wide variety of applications such as electrical contacting devices, in sensors, and in applications requiring EMI / RFI shielding and / or electrostatic dissipation. Electrically conductive addition cure silicone compositions have been described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,145 to Mitani et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,587 to Kleyer et al., European Patent No. 0 839 870, and European Patent No. 0 971 367. Other electrically conductive elastomers and foams are also known, for example polyurethanes and polyolefins. It is often desirable in the above applications to use an electrically conductive adhesive, particularly a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA), to adhere the elastomer or foam to a substrate. Electrical conductivity is most often achieved in PSAs by addi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The above-described drawbacks and disadvantages are alleviated by a pressure sensitive adhesive comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive composition and carbon nanotubes in an amount effective to render the pressure sensitive adhesive electrically conductive. Use of carbon nanotubes allows the pressure sensitive adhesive compositions to attain a volume resistivity of about 10−3 ohm-cm to about 108 ohm-cm without significantly adversely affecting the properties of the compositions such as peel strength, tack, and shear.

Problems solved by technology

Incorporation of enough filler to produce the desired conductivity can be difficult, however, especially without significantly adversely affecting the properties of the adhesive such as tack, peel strength, shear, and the like.

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