The effects of tackifier addition on phase structures, viscoelasticity and the energy absorbability of pressure sensitive adhesives were studied. The adhesives consisting of acryl block copolymer blend (polymethylmethacrylate-poly-n-buthylacrylate-polymethylmethacrylate tri-block copolymer/polymethylmethacrylate-poly-n-buthylacrylate di-block copolymer) and several tackifiers (rosin ester, terpene phenol or petroleum resin) were formulated. The phase structures were determined using a transmission electron microscope and correlated to the viscoelastic behaviors obtained by dynamic mechanical analyses. Also, the energy absorbability and the load-displacement curves of the adhesives in impact/rebound process of a pendulum were evaluated using an instrumented pendulum impactor. Rosin ester or terpene phenol had relatively good compatibility with poly-n-buthylacrylate, and the energy absorbability of the blends increased within a particular range of the tackifier content. Whereas, petroleum resin had poor compatibility with the polymer blends, and the energy absorbability of the blends did not increased. It was clarified that the energy absorbability could be described as the dissipated heat energy calculated using both loss modulus as a viscoelastic parameter and measured maximum strain in the impact process.
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