Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.71, No.14, 2313-2318, 1999
Formulation/property relationships in radiation-cured poly(urethane methacrylate) pressure-sensitive adhesives. I. Incorporation of hydrophilic polyols
Electron beam-curable urethane methacrylate oligomers were prepared which, when cured, produce pressure-sensitive adhesives. The effect of replacing hydrophobic blocks with more hydrophilic polyols in the prepolymer, in order to increase the moisture vapor transmission rates (MVTRs), was investigated. Subsequent effects on the resulting adhesive properties were also monitored. The MVTRs of the adhesives were found to increase upon incorporation of poly(ethylene glycol) but with a detrimental effect on the adhesive properties. The nature of the change in properties was related to the distribution of ethylene oxide units in the prepolymer.