title: Structure and macroscopic tackiness of ultrathin pressure sensitive adhesive films.
abstract: Ultrathin layers of the statistical copolymer P(nBA-stat-MA) with a majority of n-butyl acrylate (nBA) and a minority of methyl acrylate (MA) are characterized with respect to the film morphology and the mechanical response in a probe tack test. The probed copolymer can be regarded as a model system of a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA). The films are prepared by spin-coating which enables an easy thickness control via the polymer concentration of the solution. The film thickness is determined with x-ray reflectivity (XRR) and white light interferometry (WLI). Grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering (GISAXS) provides detailed and statistically significant information about the film morphology. Two types of lateral structures are identified and no strong correlation of these structures with the PSA film thickness is observed. In contrast, prominent parameters of the probe tack test, such as the stress maximum and the tack energy, exhibit an exponential dependence on the film thickness.
authors: Technische Universität München, Physik-Department, Lehrstuhl für Funktionelle Materialien, James-Franck-Str.1, 85748 Garching, Germany.
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Diethert
authors: Volker
authors: V
authors: Körstgens
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Magerl
authors: Katharina
authors: K
authors: Ecker
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Perlich
authors: Stephan V
authors: SV
authors: Roth
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Müller-Buschbaum
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D000269:Adhesives / Q000737:chemistry; D002621:Chemistry / Q000379:methods*; D007368:Interferometry; D008027:Light; D008422:Materials Testing; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011312:Pressure; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D000269:Adhesives; D011108:Polymers; C032490:n-butyl acrylate; C035956:methyl acrylate