Hot-melt PSA Composition with Amorphous Polystyrene

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) face issues such as strong odor, high worker and environmental load, reduced viscosity over time, and inadequate adhesive force retention across temperature ranges, making them unstable and less suitable for various applications.

Innovation Solution

A hot-melt PSA composition incorporating an amorphous polystyrene resin with a weight-average molecular weight of 50,000 or more, combined with a thermoplastic block copolymer of vinyl-based aromatic hydrocarbons and conjugated diene compounds, and optionally a tackifier, which improves dispersibility and stability while reducing odor and environmental impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional hot-melt PSA using styrene-based block copolymer is used, then pressure-sensitive adhessiveness is achieved, but strong odor and high environmental load occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure-sensitive adhessivenessVSAvoidstrong odor and environmental load
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing conventional styrene-based block copolymers (SBS, SIS) with ethylene-based block copolymers (SEBS, SEPS). This substitution fundamentally alters the molecular structure and chemical composition, eliminating the strong odor associated with conventional PSAs while maintaining pressure-sensitive adhesive properties. The ethylene-based polymers provide better environmental compatibility and reduced harmful emissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite adhesive system by combining ethylene-based block copolymer with specific tackifier resins (petroleum-based, terpene-based, or phenolic resins) and plasticizers. This composite approach allows the synergistic integration of different materials to achieve both low odor/environmental friendliness and effective adhesive performance, resolving the contradiction between reliability and harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Force

If conventional hot-melt PSA composition is used, then adhesive force is achieved, but viscosity is reduced with time particularly under high temperature environment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive forceVSAvoidviscosity stability with time
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the molecular weight parameters of the ethylene-based block copolymer (weight-average molecular weight Mw: 100,000-500,000, viscosity-average molecular weight Mn: 50,000-200,000) and controls the blend ratio with tackifier resin (70-95 wt% copolymer, 5-30 wt% tackifier). These parameter changes enhance the structural stability of the adhesive composition, preventing viscosity reduction over time while maintaining adhesive force, especially under high temperature conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

This principle is not directly applicable to this patent. The patent focuses on creating a stable, long-lasting adhesive formulation rather than using temporary or disposable components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional hot-melt PSA is used, then coating is achieved, but adhesive force decreases under high temperature or low temperature environment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating processabilityVSAvoidadhesive force retention across temperature range
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent carefully selects and balances multiple parameters: the molecular weight range of the ethylene-based block copolymer, the type and amount of tackifier resin (5-30 wt%), and the plasticizer content (5-30 wt%). These parameter optimizations ensure the adhesive remains processable during coating while maintaining stable adhesive force across a wide temperature range from low to high temperatures, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces local quality variations by using different types of tackifier resins (petroleum-based, terpene-based, or phenolic resins) and plasticizers with specific properties. These localized material selections allow the adhesive to exhibit temperature-dependent behavior optimization, maintaining performance across different temperature environments while preserving coating processability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10604682B2Hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive
Publication Date: 2020.03.31 HENKEL KGAA

AI summary

To provide a hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive which is easily coated, has a weak odor, high stability with time, and is also excellent in adhesive force retention performance from a low temperature range to a high temperature range. A hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive comprising: an amorphous polystyrene resin (A) having a number-average molecular weight of 50,000 or more; and a thermoplastic block copolymer (B) which is a copolymer of vinyl-based aromatic hydrocarbons and conjugated diene compounds.