Radiation-cured rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive

Claim 2

A radiation-curable rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive which comprises at least one elastomeric rubber-baseed pressure-sensitive adhesive comprising a block copolymer selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-butadiene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-isoprene and mixtures thereof and, as a crosslinking agent, a polythiol present in an amount sufficient to increase upon exposure to electron-beam radiation or ultraviolet radiation in the further presence of a photoinitiator, the elevated temperature shear properties of said rubber-based prressure-sensitive adhesive, with a minimum change in ambient temperature properties of 180° peel and loop tack of said rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive relative to such properties of the same rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive cured in the absence of said polythiol.

Claim 3

A radiation-curable rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive which comprises at least one elastomeric rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive comprising a block copolymer selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-butadiene and styrene-isoprene block copolymers and mixtures thereof and a polythiol crosslinking agent present in a positive amount up to about 10% by weight based on the weight of the rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive and polythiol.

Claim 4

A radiation-curable rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive which comprises at least one elastomeric rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive comprising a block copolymer selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-butadiene and styrene-isoprene block copolymers and mixtures thereof and a polythiol crosslinking agent present in a positive amount up to about 10% by weight based on the weight of the rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive and polythiol.

Claim 5

A rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive as claimed in claim 2 in which the polythiol crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of pentaerythritoltetrathiolglycolate, pentaerythritoltetra(3-mercaptopropionate), trimethylolethanetrimercaptopropionate, trimethylolpropanetrithioglycolate, trimethylolpropanetri(3-mercaptopropionate), and mixtures thereof.

Claim 6

A rubber-based pressure sensitive adhesive as claimed in claim 2 in which the polythiol is present in a concentration of from 0.3 to about 6% by weight based on a total weight of the rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive rubber and the polythiol.

Claim 7

A rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive as claimed in claim 2 in which the polythiol is present in a concentration of from about 0.3 to about 1% by weight based on a total weight of the rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive and the polythiol.

Claim 8

A rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive as claimed in claim 3 in which the polythiol is present in a concentration of from about 0.3 to about 1% by weight based on a total weight of the rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive and the polythiol.

Claim 9

A rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive as claimed in claim 1 in which the rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive comprises a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer.

Claim 10

A rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive as claimed in claim 2 in which the rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive comprises a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer.

Claim 11

A radiation-cured rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive which comprises at least one elastomeric rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive formed of a tackified elastomer comprising a block copolymer selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-butadiene and styrene-isoprene block copolymers and mixtures thereof which is cured by electron-beam radiation at a level up to about 100 kGy in the presence of a functional polythiol crosslinking agent present in an amount up to about 10% by weight based on the weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive and the polythiol, said electromeric rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive exhibiting following cure a 70° C. shear greater than 86.4 kiloseconds with minimal change in the ambient temperature properties of 180° peel and loop tack of said rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive relative to the properties of the same rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive cured in the absence of said polythiol.

Claim 12

A radiation-cured rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive which comprises at least one elastomeric rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive formed of a tackified elastomer comprising a block copolymer selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-butadiene and styrene-isoprene block copolymers and mixtures thereof which is cured by electron-beam radiation at a level up to about 100 kGy in the presence of a functional polythiol crosslinking agent present in an amount up to about 10% by weight based on the weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive and the polythiol, said electromeric rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive exhibiting following cure a 70° C. shear greater than 86.4 kiloseconds with minimal change in the ambient temperature properties of 180° peel and loop tack of said rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive relative to the properties of the same rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive cured in the absence of said polythiol.

Claim 13

A radiation-cured pressure-sensitive adhesive as claimed in claim 9 in which the functional polythiol is selected from the group consisting of pentaerythritoltetrathiolgylycolate, pentaerythritoltetra(3-mercaptopropionate), trimethylolethanetrimercaptopropionate, trimethylolpropanetrithioglycolate, trimethylolpropanetris(3-mercaptopropionate), and mixtures thereof.

Claim 14

A radiation-cured rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive as claimed in claim 9 in which the rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive comprises a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer.

Claim 15

A radiation-cured pressure-sensitive achieve as claimed in claim 11 in which the functional polythiol is selected from the group consisting of pentaerythritoltetrathiolglycolate, pentaerythritoltetra(3-mercaptopropionate), trimethylolethanetrimercaptopropionate, trimethylolpropanetrithioglycolate, trimethylolpropanetri(3-mercaptopropionate), and mixtures thereof.

Claim 16

a radiation-cured rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive as claimed in claim 9 in which the polythiol is present in a concentration of from 0.3 to about 6% by weight based on a total weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive rubber and polythiol.

Claim 17

A radiation-cured rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive as claimed in claim 9 in which the polythiol is present in a concentration of from about 0.3 to about 1% by weight based on a total weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive and the polythiol.

Claim 18

A radiation-cured rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive as claimed in claim 10 in which the rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive comprises a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer.

Claim 19

A radiation-cured rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive which comprises at least one elastomeric rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive comprising a block copolymer selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-butadiene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-isoprene and mixtures thereof and cured by ultraviolet radiation in the presence of a photoinitiator and a functional polythiol crosslinking agent present in an amount up to about 10% by weight based on the weight of the rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive and polythiol.

Claim 20

A radiation-cured rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive which comprises at least one elastomeric rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive comprising a block copolymer selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-butadiene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-isoprene and mixtures thereof and cured by ultraviolet radiation in the presence of a photoinitiator and a functional polythiol crosslinking agent present in an amount up to about 10% by weight based on the weight of the rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive and polythiol.

Claim 21

A radiation-cured pressure-sensitive adhesive as claimed in claim 16 in which the functional polythiol crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of pentaerythritoltetrathiolglycolate, pentaerythritoltetra(3-mercaptopropionate), trimethylolethanetrimercaptopropionate, trimethylolpropanetrithioglycolate, trimethylolpropanetri(3-mercaptopropionate), and mixtures thereof.

Claim 22

A radiation-cured rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive as claimed in claim 16 in which the rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive comprises a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer.

Claim 23

A radiation-cured rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive as claimed in claim 17 in which the rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive comprises a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer.

Claim 24

A radiation-cured rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive as claimed in claim 16 in which the polythiol is present in a concentration of from 0.3 to about 6% by weight based on a total weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive rubber and the polythiol.

Claim 25

A radiation-cured rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive as claimed in claim 16 in which the polythiol is present in a concentration of from about 0.3 to about 1% by weight based on a total weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive and the polythiol.

Claim 26

A process for improving the high-temperature properties of rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesives which comprising subjecting a rubber-based pressure sensitive adhesive comprising a block copolymer selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-butadiene and styrene-isoprene block copolymers and mixtures thereof which is the action of electron-beam radiation, in the presence of a polythiol crosslinking agent, said polythiol being present in an amount up to about 10% by weight based on the weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive, at a dosage level sufficient to increase 70% shear of the pressure-sensitive adhesive with minimal change in ambient temperature properties of 180° peel and loop tack relative to such properties of said pressure-sensitive adhesive cured in the absence of said polythiol.

Claim 27

A process for improving the high-temperature properties of rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesives which comprising subjecting a rubber-based pressure sensitive adhesive comprising a block copolymer selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-butadiene and styrene-isoprene block copolymers and mixtures thereof which is the action of electron-beam radiation, in the presence of a polythiol crosslinking agent, said polythiol being present in an amount up to about 10% by weight based on the weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive, at a dosage level sufficient to increase 70% shear of the pressure-sensitive adhesive with minimal change in ambient temperature properties of 180° peel and loop tack relative to such properties of said pressure-sensitive adhesive cured in the absence of said polythiol.

Claim 28

A process as claimed in claim 22 in which the electron-beam radiation dosage level is from about 10 to 100 kiloGray.

Claim 29

A process as claimed in claim 22 in which the level of exposure is from about 10 to about 50 kiloGray.

Claim 30

A process as claimed in claim 22 in which the pressure-sensitive adhesive comprises a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer.

Claim 31

A process as claimed in claim 22 in which the functional polythiol crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of pentaerythritoltetrathiolglycolate, pentaerythritoltetra(3-mercaptopropionate), trimethylolethanetrimercaptopropionate, trimethylolpropanetrithiolglycolate, trimethylolpropanetri(3-mercaptopropionate), and mixtures thereof.

Claim 32

A process as claimed in claim 23 in which the functional polythiol crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of pentaerythritoltetrathiolglycolate, pentaerythritoltetra(3-mercaptopropionate), trimethylolethanetrimercaptopropionate, trimethylolpropanetrithioglycolate, trimethylolpropanetri(3-mercaptopropionate), and mixtures thereof.

Claim 33

A process as claimed in claim 24 in which the functional polythiol crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of pentaerythritoltetrathiolglycolate, pentaerythritoltetra(3-mercaptopropionate), trimethylolethanetrimercaptopropionate, trimethylolpropanetrithioglycolate, trimethylolpropanetri(3-mercaptoproprionate), and mixtures thereof.

Claim 34

A process as claimed in claim 25 in which the functional polythiol crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of pentaerythritoltetrathiolglycolate, pentaerythritoltetra(3-mercaptopropionate), trimethylolethanetrimercaptopropionate, trimethylolpropanetrithiolglycolate, trimethylolpropanetri(3-mercaptopropionate), and mixtures thereof.

Claim 35

A process as claimed in claim 22 in which the polythiol is present in a concentration of from about 0.3 to about 6% by weight based on a total weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive rubber and the polythiol.

Claim 36

A process as claimed in claim 25 in which the polythiol is present in a concentration of from about 0.3 to about 6% by weight based on a total weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive rubber and the polythiol.

Claim 37

A process as claimed in claim 26 in which the polythiol is present in a concentration of from about 0.3 to about 6% by weight based on a total weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive rubber and the polythiol.

Claim 38

A process as claimed in claim 22 in which the polythiol is present in a concentration of from about 0.3 to about 1% by weight based on a total weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive and the polythiol.

Claim 39

A process as claimed in claim 23 in which the polythiol is present in a concentration of from about 0.3 to about 1% by weight based on a total weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive and the polythiol.

Claim 40

A process as claimed in claim 28 in which the polythiol is present in a concentration of from about 0.3 to about 1% by weight based on a total weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive and the polythiol.

Claim 41

A process as claimed in claim 29 in which the polythiol is present in a concentration of from about 0.3 to about 1% by weight based on a total weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive and the polythiol.

Claim 42

A process for improving the high-temperature properties of rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesives comprising a block copolymer selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-butadiene and styrene-isoprene block copolymers and mixtures thereof, which comprises subjecting a rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive, comprising at least one rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive formed of a tackified elastomer which is responsive to the action of ultraviolet radiation, in the presence of a photoiniator and polythiol crosslinking agent, present in an amount up to about 10% by weight based on the weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive, at a dosage level sufficient to increase the 70° C. shear of the pressure-sensitive adhesive with minimal change in the ambient temperature properties of 180° shear and loop tack of said rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive cured in the absence of said polythiol.

Claim 43

A process for improving the high-temperature properties of rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesives comprising a block copolymer selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-butadiene and styrene-isoprene block copolymers and mixtures thereof, which comprises subjecting a rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive, comprising at least one rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive formed of a tackified elastomer which is responsive to the action of ultraviolet radiation, in the presence of a photoiniator and polythiol crosslinking agent, present in an amount up to about 10% by weight based on the weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive, at a dosage level sufficient to increase the 70° C. shear of the pressure-sensitive adhesive with minimal change in the ambient temperature properties of 180° shear and loop tack of said rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive cured in the absence of said polythiol.

Claim 44

A process as claimed in claim 37 in which the pressure-sensitive adhesive comprises a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer.

Claim 45

A process as claimed in claim 37 in which the polyfunctional thiol is selected from the group consisting of pentaerythritoltetrathiolglycolate, pentaerythritoltetra(3-mercaptopropionate), trimethylolethanetrimercaptopropionate, trimethylolpropanetrithioglycolate, trimethylolpropanetri(3-mercaptopropionate), and mixtures thereof.

Claim 46

A process as claimed in claim 38 in which the polyfunctional thiol is selected from the group consisting of pentaerythritoltetrathiolglycolate, pentaerythritoltetra(3-mercaptopropionate), trimethylolethanetrimercaptopropionate, trimethylolpropanetrithioglycolate, trimethylolpropanetri(3-mercaptopropionate), and mixtures thereof.

Claim 47

A process as claimed in claim 37 in which the polythiol is present in a concentration of from about 0.3 to about 6% by weight based on a total weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive and the polythiol.

Claim 48

A process as claimed in claim 38 in which the polythiol is present in a concentration of from about 0.3 to about 6% by weight based on a total weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive and the polythiol.

Claim 49

A process as claimed in claim 39 in which the polythiol is present in a concentration of from about 0.3 to about 6% by weight based on a total weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive and the polythiol.

Claim 50

A process as claimed in claim 37 in which the polythiol is present in a concentration of from about 0.3 to about 1% by weight based on a total weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive and the polythiol.

Claim 51

A process as claimed in claim 38 in which the polythiol is present in a concentration of from about 0.3 to about 1% by weight based on a total weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive and the polythiol.

Claim 52

A process as claimed in claim 39 in which the polythiol is present in a concentration of from about 0.3 to about 1% by weight based on a total weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive and the polythiol.