Applicable Base Polymer Properties
Styrene block copolymers (SBCs) offer cohesion, strength, and heat resistance for both pressures sensitive adhesives (PSAs) and non-pressure sensitive adhesives. The styrene phase forms a physically crosslinked network in the adhesive at room temperature.
Contact adhesives develop strength with time and this can be an important factor in many applications such as building and construction. Compared to the more conventional neoprene based contact adhesives, SBS based contact adhesives develop strength much more quickly.
Some of the advantages of SBCs 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