Tack Properties of Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive-Coated\nFiber Assemblies

Abstract

The characterization\nof the adhesive bond for pressure-sensitive\nadhesives has to take into account the geometry of the adherents and\nthe kind of stress applied. We present a technique, which allows for\nthe measurement of tack for assemblies of fibers coated with pressure-sensitive\nadhesives using customized cylindrical composite stamps. Crucial for\nthe method is the proposed technique to achieve monolayers of parallel-aligned\nfibers as a fiber assembly. The tack test is exemplified with a study\nof the tack properties of a polymer blend of poly­(vinylpyrrolidone-<i>co</i>-vinylacetate) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) coated on\nhuman hair. This composition serves as a simple model system for hair\nstyling products. The influence of different PEG contents and of the\nhumidity on the tack is demonstrated. Nylon fibers with different\ndiameters are studied as references.