Structural Adhesives Tapes Based on a Solid Epoxy Resin and Multifunctional Acrylic Telomers

Abstract

Thermally curable pressure-sensitive structural adhesives tapes (SATs) were compounded using a solid epoxy resin and multifunctional acrylic telomer solutions (MATs) prepared by a thermally initiated telomerization process in an epoxy diluent containing two kinds of telogens (CBr4 or CBrCl3). Dynamic viscosity, K-value, and volatile mater content in MATs (i.e., MAT-T with CBr4, MAT-B with CBrCl3) were investigated in relation to telogen type and content. The influence of MATs on the self-adhesive features and curing behavior of UV-crosslinked tapes as well as on the shear strength of thermally cured aluminum–SAT–aluminum joints was investigated as well. Increasing the telogen dose (from 5 to 15 wt. parts) caused significant improvement in the adhesion (+315% and +184%), tack (+147% and +298%), and cohesion (+414% and +1716%) of SATs based on MAT-T and MAT-B, respectively. Additionally, MATs with high telogen content (especially the MAT-T-type) improved the resistance of cured joints to aviation fuel, humidity, and elevated temperature. The highest overlap shear strength values were registered for SATs based on MATs containing 7.5 wt. parts of CBr4 (16.7 MPa) or 10 wt. parts of CBrCl3 (15.3 MPa).