Everything You Need to Know About Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives in Protective Films

The pressure-sensitive adhesive utilized in Protective Films can be classified into four categories: natural rubber, synthetic rubber, water-soluble acrylic, and solvent-based acrylic. The key to the good and bad of the protective film is determined by the characteristics of the adhesive, which has different characteristics.

1. Natural rubber has a high cohesion, so it generally does not produce residual glue. The resin and additives regulate the viscosity. However, the coating process is more complicated; it is necessary to apply primer on the film first to improve the surface energy of the film before the natural rubber can be coated on the PE film. In indoor environments, natural rubber can remain unchanged for up to two years, but it degrades and ages within 3-12 months when exposed to UV light. The UV-resistant black and white protective film is generally composed of three layers: the innermost layer, black, can effectively absorb ultraviolet rays; the middle layer, white, can reflect the light so that the protective film can less absorption energy, reduce the aging of the gel, the surface layer: white: can completely cover the black of the inner layer, the pure white color can be printed more beautiful. So even after 12 months of outdoor exposure, the rubber will not age. Eliminate the worries of manufacturers. Typical natural rubber has a light yellow color. The initial adhesion of natural rubber is good, and it is challenging to unravel the glue and adhesive in contact with each other.

2. Synthetic rubber can provide higher viscosity and weather resistance

Synthetic rubber can provide higher viscosity and weather resistance, but for a long time, the glue will be cured, and the initial viscosity is reduced, so the synthetic rubber is generally added to the natural rubber.

3. Water-soluble acrylic is water as a medium to dissolve the acrylic monomer

As more environmentally friendly and do not need solvent recovery devices, developing countries often use water-soluble colloids to produce protective film. Water-soluble acrylic has the characteristics of a solvent-based protective film. The adhesive surface of the water-soluble protective film should avoid and reduce contact with water vapor to prevent residual adhesive. The water-soluble adhesive protective film is characterized by a very easy and fast tear away. Water-soluble acrylic protective film in the United States and Asia with a lot.

4. solvent-based acrylic is to use organic solvents as a medium to dissolve acrylic monomer

Acrylic adhesive is transparent and resistant to aging for up to 10 years. The adhesive also cures slowly when exposed to UV light. Compared to rubber, acrylic adhesives have a low initial tack. After the film has been corona-treated, the acrylic adhesive can be applied directly without a primer. Acrylic films make a jittery, harsh sound when unwinding, while rubber-based films unwind with a very soft sound. Compared to acrylic adhesive, rubber is very smooth and has good fluidity. After being pressurized, it quickly makes complete contact with the surface to be applied, so the most significant advantage of the rubber-type protective film is that the adhesive is rapidly exerted, and the final adhesion is reached very soon after being pressurized by the roller. It is suitable for cutting by the board factory and very convenient for the end user to tear the film. For rough surfaces, after pressure, the advantages of good fluidity of rubber molecules are more obvious; they can be quickly pressed into various depressions and have full contact with the surface.

The acrylic rubber is tough and has poor mobility, so the adhesion of the acrylic protective film plays more slowly; even after pressure, the gel and the surface to be posted still can not be fully contacted. Placed 30-60 days later, it will be full contact with the surface to be posted to achieve the final adhesion, and the final adhesion tends to be greater than the adhesion of the sticking of the viscosity of 2-3 times.