Non whitening dispersion acrylic adhesive tape product

As a manufacturer of dispersion-based adhesive systems, we are often asked whether or not our products are ‘water resistant’?

In the world of adhesives it is widely believed that whilst adhesive systems that use water-based dispersions may be less harmful to the environment, they are also less ‘water-resistant’. You cannot deal with this issue seriously, unless you first define more precisely what is meant by ‘water-resistant’. In fact, there are two sides to the issue. Each relates to a specific aspect, but both are determinant on the ultimate performance of the product.

However, coming back to the issue of whitening, it is important first of all to understand the difference between a water-based adhesive system and one which is based on solvents. In both cases the adhesive consists of acrylate polymers or acrylate co-polymers produced with the monomers normally used in pressure-sensitive adhesives, e.g. butyl acrylate or 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate. Accordingly, the two types of adhesive system are not different in this respect. It is argued, therefore, that the difference lies in the additives or, more precisely, the surfactants that are essential for the production of water-based dispersions. These surfactants are auxiliary substances that help to blend and stabilise two components such as water and oil that are not miscible. However, having investigated this issue over the last two years, we have concluded that the quality of the film and the coating process have a much bigger influence on the ‘whitening’ behaviour of a pressure sensitive film than do surfactants. So at ATP we have leveraged this understanding and worked with our raw material suppliers to develop pressure-sensitive films that can match the performance of solvent-based adhesive systems in terms of water whitening.

ATP for water-resistance. No whitening, no loss of adhesion!

High performance adhesives with superior water-resistance behaviour. That’s ATP!