| Since their introduction half a century ago, pressure-sensitive adhesives have been successfully applied in many fields. They are used in self-adhesive labels, and tapes and protective films, as well as in dermal dosage systems for pharmaceutical applications, the assembly of automotive parts, toys, and electronic circuits and keyboards. They have experienced an astonishing growth rate, and the installed manufacturing and converting capacity has also sharply increased. A specific engineering technology for pressure-sensitive adhesives, surprisingly a special science, appears to be lacking. Very few books deal with the intrinsic features of pressure-sensitive adhesives. |
| The application of pressure-sensitive adhesives requires a thorough knowledge of basic rheological and viscoelastic phenomena. Adhesive and polymer scientists, however, are not very often employed as industrial managers or machine operators. Therefore the need arises to investigate and summarize the most important features of pressure-sensitive adhesive technology and to explain the phenomena scientifically. This book covers all the fields of manufacturing, conversion, and application and end-uses of pressure-sensitive adhesives. |
| The classical approach would be to compile a treatise based on the work of various experts, theoreticians, chemists, and engineers, thereby coming up with a book consisting of a series of papers with a common title only. We have, however, chosen a different approach. Based on our experience as engineers (in both scientific activity and industrial areas), and using the available technical literature, we have addressed all aspects of pressure-sensitive adhesives. We have included the scientific basis of suitability for specific applications (i.e., chemical and physical, rheology), the raw materials, |
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