Applicable Base Polymer Properties
Styrene block copolymers (SBCs) offer cohesion, strength, and heat resistance for both pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) and non-pressure sensitive adhesives. The styrene phase forms a physically crosslinked network in the adhesive at room temperature.
Styrene butadiene styrene (SBS) copolymers are the least expensive of the SBCs and have the lowest cost. They are generally used in non-pressure sensitive formulations. Some of the advantages of SBSs in solvent borne adhesives and sealants are:
- Polymers are directly soluble: no milling necessary
- Solution times are shorter: greater productivity and efficiency
- Solutions are more uniform: better control and reproducibility
- Solution viscosity is lower: higher solids level, lower solvent cost, greater thickness build
Solutions are stable: longer shelf life.