This article explores the basic requirements for tackifiers, the main types available for use in adhesive formulations, and the most common applications. Selection criteria are recommended to make the process of choosing a tackifying agent less intimidating. Tackifiers are important constituents in hot melt and pressure sensitive adhesives in terms of both cost and their affect on properties. Tackifiers frequently represent most of the weight percentage (up to 40 percent of total mass) and cost of the adhesive formulation. Tackifiers get their name from the fact that they are used to increase the tack or “stickiness” of the adhesive. In practice, formulators use tackifiers to make the correct balance between adhesion and cohesion which is dependent on the end-use application. They do this by lowering the modulus and increasing the glass transition temperature of the final adhesive. Tackifiers must be considered with regard to the end-properties that the formulator is trying to achieve, the type of processing that the adhesive will be subject to, and the chemical nature of the base polymer.
posted by Philip Budwick, Marketing / Sales at Globalwax LLC
Thank you for the article! I did have one question on the creation of new polyolefin plastomers which are being used instead of EVA. I am working on seeing which tackifiers would work best with this newer polymer and wondering if all places where EVA and a tackifier are deemed compatible, you can simply swap out the EVA for polyolefin plastomer such as Dow's Affinity line? Thank you!
I am fairly new to the adhesives area. I found this article to be very clear, succinct, and informative. It is one of the most useful technical summaries that I have read this year.
Correction to Commercial Information - Oct 03, 2012
posted by Craig Hughes, Marketing / Sales at Pinova Inc.
Hello,
I noted some inaccuracies in the information on product names and associated suppliers in Table 1 of this article. "Foral 85" and "Foral 105" are in fact names of products produced by Pinova Inc. Eastman has similarly named products which include the letter "E" pended after the product name. The difference is Pinova products are based upon rosin derived from pine tree stumps, whereas Eastman analogs are based upon Chinese gum rosin. Additionally, Piccovar AP 25 is not a current commercial product of Pinova. This product was developed several years ago by Hercules Specialty Resins (predecessor organization of Pinova).
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