Acrylic emulsions offer a low cost adhesive with moderate performance properties. They are tremendously versatile due to the large number of different monomers and resins available. Acrylic waterborne laminating adhesives can provide bonds ranging from flexible and tough to hard and rigid depending on the formulation. Acrylic adhesives inherently have very good UV and oxidative stability and are generally preferred for outdoor applications.
RESULTING PROPERTIES
The table above provides a typical starting formation for a general purpose pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive. It is typically used for labels that are exposed to low temperatures such as in freezer compartments.
Many pressure sensitive acrylic resins provide for excellent packaging and label adhesives at temperatures as low as –50°C. These are commonly used in the food processing industry. Depending on the properties of the base polymer and additive resins, these adhesive systems may be applicable to freezer conditions. Certain types are approved for indirect food contact and resistance to temperatures as cold as –130°C.
