A modular strategy for functional pressure sensitive adhesives

Kyueui Lee, Brylee David B. Tiu, Valentin Martchenko, Kristene Mai, Goun Lee, Matthias Gerst, Phillip B. Messersmith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

A modular approach to synthesizing functional pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) was introduced, wherein a modifiable acrylic PSA copolymer was synthesized by copolymerizing common PSA monomers with 6 mol % glycidyl methacrylate, allowing for subsequent functional group modification via the pendant epoxide functionality. This postmodification technique has the advantage of allowing the installation of a variety of functional groups relevant to adhesion, without variation of molecular weight. Because comparisons of cohesive and adhesive performance of candidate PSAs can be complicated by molecular weight differences, this strategy simplifies direct comparisons of the effects of functional groups on performance. As a proof of concept, a mussel-inspired catecholic PSA was synthesized by postreaction of the epoxide scaffold polymer with a thiol-modified catechol, allowing the effect of catechol on underlying structure-property relationships to be determined without variation in molecular weight. The mechanical performance of catecholic PSA was compared to relevant control PSAs by using industry-standard 180° peel and static shear tests, revealing an increase in peel strength achieved through catechol modification. Moreover, we observed an unexpected enhancement in PSA cohesive strength attributed to oxidation of catechol, which cannot be attributed to differences in molecular weight, a common source of changes in PSA cohesive strength.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3161-3165
Number of pages5
JournalACS applied materials & interfaces
Volume13
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 20 Jan 2021

Keywords

  • adhesion
  • adhesive
  • bio-inspired material
  • cohesion
  • modular approach

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