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. Of the SBCs, styrene butadiene styrene (SBS) has the highest shear strength and moderately good peel strength. Styrene isoprene styrene (SIS) has the highest peel strength although it is cohesively weaker than the SBS resins.
SIBS has been used to replace some of the isoprene content in standard SIS PSAs due to the high cost and difficulty in sourcing isoprene. The above formulations are developed as lower cost alternatives for OPP tapes.