AU6171199A - Improved pressure sensitive labeling adhesive - Google Patents

Description

S&F Ref: 430419D1

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

r* a a aa a a Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: ATO Findley Inc.

11320 Watertown Plank Road Wauwatosa Wisconsin 53226 United States of America Margaret M. Fralich, Robert Haeger, Richard Hamann, Michael Vitrano Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 Improved Pressure Sensitive Labeling Adhesive The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845c IMPROVED PRESSURE SENSITIVE LABELING ADHESIVE Technical Field This invention relates to novel pressure sensitive adhesive compositions, and in particular to such pressure sensitive adhesives which are best suited to the manufacture of pressure sensitive labels.* Background of_ the Invention Pressure sensitive adhesives are materials which have tack properties at room temperature. The pressure sensitive adhesive firmly adheres to a variety of dissimilar surfaces without the need of more than finger or hand pressure.

During label manufacture a laminate, formed of a face stock, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer, and a release liner, is passed through apparatus which converts the laminate to yield commercially useful labels and label stock. The processes involved in the converting operation include, for example, printing, die cutting and matrix stripping to leave labels on a release liner, butt cutting of labels to the release liner, marginal hole punching, perforating, fan folding, guillotining and the like. Die and butt cutting involve cutting of the laminate to the face of the release liner. other Tarocedures involve cutting entirely through the label laminate and include, for instance, hole punching and perforating, and guillotining.

The cost of converting a laminate into a finished product is a function of the speed at which the various processirng operations can be done. While the nature of all layers of the laminate can impact cost of convertibility, historically the adhesive layer has been the greatest limiting factor in the ease and cost of the conversion operation. This is true because of the viscoelastic nature of the adhesive. The fact that the adhesive is viscoelastic hampers precise and clean penetration of a die in die cutting operations, and promotes adherence to cutting blades and the like in any type of cutting operation. The fact that adhesives can be stringy also has an impact on matrix stripping operations, which are often done after die cutting operations.

To date, achieving good convertibility has not automatically coincided with achieving excellent adhesive performance. Adhesives must be formulated to fit predetermined needs. Important properties include peel adhesion, tack, shear properties, viscosity at various temperatures, and the like. Good general purpose adhesives may exhibit poor convertibility simply because the adhesive is difficult to cleanly cut. Such an adhesive may stick to a die or blade. In label manufacture, die cutting and matrix stripping operations by necessity occur at a variety of speeds ranging up to 1000 feet per minute or more.

Within that range, an adhesive may provide regions where a *matrix will break despite the fact that successful matrix stripping can occur at speeds on either side of the region.

It is a goal to provide adhesive systems wherein the adhesive can be cleanly cut and the matrix stripped at substantially any practical operating speed.

Sasaki et al, U.S. Patent No. 5,290,842 shows a combination wherein a styrene-butadiene block copolymer is combined with a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer to show two separate and distinct glass transition temperature peaks, allegedly to improve the convertibility. other patents of interest are Downey, U.S. Patent No. 3,880, 953; Tindall, U.S. Patent No. 3,S09,239; Feeney, U.S. Patent No.

4,060,503; and Korpman, U.S. Patent No. 3,932,328.

This invention relates to improvements to the products described above and to solutions to some of the problems raised thereby.

Summary-of the Invention This invention provides a pressure sensitive adhesive which exhibits improved convertibility, that is, the abili-ty to achieve cutting of the adhesive in processing operations involving cutting through a face stock and adhesive to at least the release liner of the laminate, while at the same time providing superior adhesive performance.

These results can be obtained by combining a typical styrenic block copolymer, blended with tackifying resins, whether natural or hydrocarbon based, and including, in place of some or all of the plasticizer, a styrene isoprene di-block copolymer. Both the styrenic block copolymer and the styrene isoprene di-block copolymier are miscible together with the tackifier to produce a pressure sensitive adhesive that exhibits a single glass transition temperature (Tg) value. The expected result of this partial or complete replacement of the plasticizer is mainly the reduction of the tendency of the plasticizer to migrate from the adhesive and cause staining of the face *15 stock, the release liner, or both. Also, however, this partial or complete replacement of the plasticizer produces the unexpected results of substantially higher temperature performance and a very substantial improvement in the ability of the adhesive to be die cut.

Previous attempts to improve the die cutting of hot melt pressure sensitive adhesives have had detrimental 0: a effects on other characteristics. For example, increasing the resin content increases the tangent delta value of the *..*pressure sensitive adhesive compared to the tangent delta :25 value measured in the absence of increased resin content, thereby increasing the ease of die cutting, but also significantly increases the glass transition temperature, T.The T. can be increased to a point where the adhesive no longer maintains its pressure sensitive characteristics.

In addition, the application and service temperature ranges are condensed. Incorporation of or increasing the level of typical processing oils will improve the processability, but will decrease an adhesive's ability to be die cut, and wili. diminish high temperature performance. The addition of a low molecular weight styrene-isoprene di-block copolymer improves processability and improves the tangent delta values at 206C, while maintaining an acceptably low TV. This enhancement in ability to be die cut and the -4enhancement in high temperature performance are unexpected benefits. A preferred plasticizer is composed of a styrene isoprene di-block copolymer and a processing oil in a weight ratio of about 1:2 to 1:0.5.

other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent hereinafter.

Detailed Description of the Inveto The present invention is directed in general to a pressure sensitive adhesive formed from a mixture of base polymers, in particular styrenic block copolymers, and a tackifier. As is generally conventional, the styrenic block copolymers may be selected from any of several types, including but not limited to styrene-isoprele-styrele block copol-ymers such as Vector 4111 available from Dexco, styrene-isoprene-styrene/styrene-isoprene block copolymers such as Kraton D1107 or Kratofl D1112, manufactured and sold by Shell, styrene -butadiene-styrene block copolymers such as Vector 6241D available from Dexco, styrene-butadienestyrene/styrene-butadiene block copolymners such as Kraton D1102 also from Shell, and styrene -but adiele block copolymers such as Soiprene 1205, manufactured and sold by Housmex, Inc. The above examples are unsaturated midblock copolymers. Saturated midblock copolymners are also usable, including but not limited to styrene-ethylene-butylelea.:25 styrene block copolymers such as Kraton G1652, avaiJlable from Shell, strn-tyeebtleesyeesyee ethylene-buty)lee block copolymiers such as Kraton G1657, also from Shell and styrene-ethylene -propylene styrene/ styrene- ethylenle-propylene block copolymers such as Septon 2063, manufactured by Kuraray, a Japanese company, and distributed in the United States by Arakawa Chemical Ind-, Ltd.

Generally conventional tackifier systems can include, as one example of many choices available, a normally solid tackifier such as Wingtack 95, an aliphatic petroleum resin, manufactured by Goodyear, or Escorez 1310 LC, an aliphatic petroleum resin, manufactured by Exxon,

I

together with a plasticizer system, usually including a plasticizer oil such as Shellflex 371, from Shell, or a normally liquid tackifier such as Wingtack 10, an aliphatic petroleum resin, available from Goodyear, or some combination of both.

The invention calls for the addition of a styrene isoprene di-block copolymer having a low viscosity, preferably a viscosity such that the styrene isoprene diblock copolymer is a liquid at 25 0 C. This styrene isoprene di-block copolymer used in the adhesive composition of the present invention has the configuration of A-B, wherein "A" is a styrene polymer block and is an isoprene polymer block. These "di-block" copolymers used in the present invention differ significantly from "tri-block" polymers 15 having an A-B-A configuration, with and each representing separate, distinct polymers. Di-block copolymers are also distinguished from "radial polymers" .(ABx) which consist of a central block of a polymer with numerous arms of a block of a different polymer 20 extending from the central A polymer block. The preferred styrene isoprene di-block copolymers of the present invention have an absolute molecular weight of less than 70,000, with the most preferred styrene isoprene di-block copolymers having an absolute molecular weight of less than 25 5C,000, or a polystyrene equivalent molecular weight of less than 70,000. Preferred A-B styrene isoprene di-block copolymers of the present invention will have the styrene A block amounting to about 5% to about 50% of the mass of the copolymer molecule, most preferably about 5% to about In particular, LVSI-101 is one such styrene isoprene diblock copolymer available from Shell, and LIR-310 is another, available from Kuraray through Arakawa, for this purpose. The plasticizers referred to above, and particularly the oils, have tended to be subject to migration, causing adverse effects on substrate and adhesive performance. Since styrene isoprene di-block copolymer is substantially less migratory than these plasticizers, the addition of the styrene isoprene di-block copolymer in place of some or all of the normally liquid tackifier and/or plasticizer oil was expected to have the effect of reducing staining. What was not expected, however, was that the inclusion of the styrene isoprene diblock copolymer provided broad end-use temperature ranges while at the same time substantially improving die-cutting performance.

in order to demonstrate and verify these effects, several formulations were prepared, using generally standard preparation processes and methods, according to the Examples 1 through 4 shown in the following tables, and certain testing procedures were employed.

Dynamic Mechanical Analysis, or DMA, is used to measure how a material responds to an imposed strain or deformation. This response will either be a viscous, elastic or viscoelastic response. DMA is used to model arnd *..predict how a material will respond to real-world phenomena such as coating, die-cutting, aging and other conditions.

DM4A is also used to predict adhesive performance. The DMA testing used to profile these pressure-sensitive adhesives was run on 25 mm parallel plates using a frequency of radians per second and a 1 or 5 percent strain, as indicated. Temperature sweeps were performed from 1400 to -400C with an initial gap of 1.6 mm.

The "tangent delta" is the ratio of the viscous response (Gym) to the elastic response (GIn) of a particular DMA curve. The glass transition temperature is indicated by a peak on the tangent delta curve of a temperature sweep. Die-cutting performance for the formulations referred to herein can be approximated by comparing the tangent delta values at 20 0 C for the different formulations. A higher tangent delta value at a given temperature indicates a material will respond in a more viscous fashion. The greater the viscous response, the more likely a material will flow when subjected to an oucside force. Consequently, materials with higher tangenz delta values at a temperature of interest will tend to diecut better. They flow and separate when subjected to cutting forces, as compared to materials with low tangent delta values which deform and then recover. Hence, the higher the tangent delta value at 20 0 C, the better the diecutting performance. The tangent delta value and the T.of a formulation, along with various performance tests, will determine the suitability of a product for a pressuresensitive application. The addition of the styrene isoprene di-block copolymer in the present invention results in a pressure sensitive adhesive having an increased tangent delta value of 5% or greater when compared to a similar pressure sensitive adhesive which is identical except for lacking the addition of the styrene isoprene di-block copolymer.

5 The pressure sensitive adhesive compositions of the present invention may be formulated using any of the techniques well known in the art. A representative example of a prior art procedure involves placing all of the oil substances and any optional stabilizer substances in a jacketed mixing kettle, and preferably in a jacketed heavy duty mixer of the Baker-Perkins or Day type, equipped with rotors. The materials are mixed and the temperature of the mixture is raised to a range from about 250OF to about E)4,Ib)350 0 F. As should be understood, the precise temperature to be used in this step will depend on the melting point of the particular ingredients. When the initial mixture has ~~been heated, the mixture is blanketed with CO 2 atalo S flow rate and the required tackitiers, or resins, described above, aze slowly added. When all of the ingredients are melted at the desired temperature, the copolymers are added to the mixture. The resultant pressure sensitive adhesive composition mixture is agitated until the copolymers are completely dissolved. A vacuum is then applied to remove any entrapped air.

The preparation of coated stock for pressure sensitive adhesive testing is described as follows.

Adhiesive is coated onto a release liner (SBL 42 SC FlU from Akrosil or equivalent) such that a 2.25 inch wide continuous pattern is applied at 1.0±0.05 mils (adhesive -9- (unless otherwise specified) is attached to each sample and allowed to hang until the sample fails. The oven must be conditioned to a constant temperature of 90OF and held for one minute before raising the temperature. The test is run until all samples fail from their respective panels. The temperature at which failure occurs is then recorded. All failures should be cohesive in nature. A cohegive failure results when there is residual adhesive on both the test panel surface and the coated substrate. An adhesive failure, indicating delamination from either the coated substrate or the test panel, with no residue, will not result in a representative value. It indicates the see&*:temperature at which the adhesive failed from the test panel or substrate, and is no indication of the internal strength of an adhesive. A minimum of three trials should be run and then the average taken. The pressure sensitive adhesive of the present invention preferably demonstrates a rise or a minimal decrease in SAFT. This preferable minimal decrease corresponds to a decrease of SOP or less for a pressure sensitive adhesive of the instant invention, when compared to a similar pressure sensitive adhesive which is identical except for lacking the addition of the styrene isoprene di-block copolymer.

As to each example formulation, 1800 peel tests and shear adhesion failure temperature tests were conducted. The results of those tests on the improved adhesives provided by this invention were compared with the results of those tests conducted on prior art adhesives as controls, and the results tabulated. The glass transition temperature T 9and tangent delta were also calculated and are presented in the same tables.

The pressure sensitive adhesives of the present invention preferably demonstrate a minimal increase in Tg This minimal increase in T 9corresponds to an increase of 3 0 C or less for a preferred pressure sensitive adhesive of the instant invention, when compared to a similar pressure sensitive adhesive which is identical except for lacking the addition of the styrene isoprene di-block copolymner.

Table 1 shows controls where, besides the use of Kraton 1107 as the base polymer, and Piccotac 95, from Hercules, as a normally solid tackifier, the mixture includes 15k~ by weight of conventional plasticizers.

Sheliflex 371, a hydrocarbon processing oil, is used as the conventional plasticizer in Control 1, while Wingtack 10, a normally liquid tackifier, is used as the conventional plasticizer in Control 2. In Example 1, LVSI-101 is the only ingredient used as a plasticizer. Example 2 includes use of a combination of two-thirds LVSI-101 and one-third Sheilfiex 372. as a plasticizer, while Example 3 includes use of a combination of one-third LVSI-101 and iwo-thirds Shellflex 371 as a plasticizer. In each of these formulations Irganox 1010, a phenolic antioxidant, is added to reduce oxidative degradation during processing and to a improve shelf life performance. The DMA testing for each of the formulations shown in Table 1 was performed at strain. As can be seen below, each of the examples has peel adhesion, equal or superior to Control 2, which has the liquid tackifier as plasticizer, and clearly superior to Control 1, which has the processing oil as the plasticizer. Further, as indicated by the Shear Adhesion Failure Temperature figures, the examples show significantly increased high temperature strength over conventional adhesives.

*..*Moreover, while Control 2 does have the highest *:tangent delta value at 20*C, its T9is also much higher than any of the examples. This fact indicates that the low temperature performance of this formulation has been compromised to achieve that high a tangent delta value. In fact, because the T9 is above 15 0 C, whereas the Tg9 of each of the examples is below 10 0 C, the adhesive or pressure sensitive properties of the formulation of Control 2 will be generally unacceptable for the great majority of conventional applications. The examples all have Tg values comparable to Control 1, and all the examples show significant increases in tangent delta values at 20 0 C over Control 1. The pressure sensitive adhesives of the present -11invention exhibit a single Tg value. This single Tg value is the result of the styrene isoprene di-block copolymer and the remaining elastomers being miscible with the tackifier. Accordingly, the examples possess wider temperature ranges than the controls and the improved tangent delta values indicate a substantial improvement in ease of conversion.

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S S *55* 20 Table 1 Control I Control 2 Example I Example 2 Example 3 Shellflex 371 15 5 Wingtack 10 15 LVSI-101 15 10 Piccotac 95 55 55 55 55 Kraton 1107 30 30 30 30 Irganox 1010 I 1 1 1 1 180 Peel to 4.9 5.5 5.5 5.6 5.9 Stainless Steel Shear Adhesion 164 162 179 168 168 Failure Temperature

(OF)

TI 7.17 16.34 9.37 8.99 7.12 Tangent Delta at 1.069 2.404 1. 179 1.213 1. 173 Table 2 compares Example 17 from Sasaki et al, U,S, Patent No. 5,290,842, here labeled Control 3, to a formulation provided by the invention, indicated as Example 4. The difference between the two formulations is the replacement of half of the processing oil, Shellflex 371, with the styrene isoprene di-block copolymer LVSI-101. The DMA testing for each of the formulations shown in Table 2 was performed at l% strain. Again, as can be seen, the 1800 peel test and shear adhesion failure temperature tests yield much improved figures for Example 4 as compared to Control 3, indicating a substantial improvement in adhesive properties over a formulation described in the Sasaki -12- 8*

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patent as having "excellent adhesive properties" Further, the tangent delta figures indicate much easier converting, again over a formulation described by Sasaki as -exhibiting "excellent convertibility".

Table 2 Control 3 Example 4 LVSI-101 -12 Solprene 1205 21.2 21.2 Kraton D-I 112 16.8 16.8 Escorez 1310 LC 38 38 Sbellflex 371 24 12 Ethyl 330' 0.7 0.7 Cyanox LTDP' 0.7 0.7 180' Peel to Stainless Steel 2.8 3.9 Shear Adhesion Failure Temperature 130 154 is (OFD T, (OC) -7.12 -4.9 Tangent Delta at 206C 0.556 0.696 ~phenolic antioxidant, -propionic acid antiocidant.

Finally, the effect of other, non-styrenecontaining low molecular weight polymers was compared, by comparing the formulation from Example I above to formulations using these polymers. In particular, low molecular weight isoprene rubber polymers LIR-30 and LIRfrom Kuraray, through Arakawa, were selected for Controls 4 and 5. Here again, the DMA testing for each of the formulations shown in Table 3 was performed at strain. Here the control formulations provide neither the peel adhesion nor the high temperature performance of a low molecular weight styrene- isoprene copolymer.

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a a a a Table 3 Control 4 Control 5 Example I LVSI-101 Piccotac 95 55 55 Kraton 1107 30 30 LIR-30 15 Irganox 1010 1 1 1 1800 Peel to Stainless Steel 4.1 4.8 Shear Adhesion Failure Temperature 154 167 179 T, 4.12 3.87 9.37 Tangent Delta at 20*C 1.124 0.928 1.179 While the adhesives hereinbefore described are effectively adapted to fulfill the aforesaid objects, it is 15 to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific preferred embodiments of pressure sensitive labeling adhesives set forth above. In particular without limitation, it should be understood that the formulations discussed herein may include additional oils, fillers, extenders, pigments, dies, indicators, stabilizers, and other such ingredients as may be desired to achieve certain desirable or desired properties or avoid certain undesirable or undesired properties. Additionally, the formulations discussed herein may be free of organic solvents. The claimed invention, however, is to be taken as including all reasonable equivalents to the subject matter of the appended claims.

Claims (17)

1. A pressure sensitive adhesive, comprising: an elastomer selected from the group consisting of a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene- isoprene-styrene/styrene-isoprene block copolymer, a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene- butadiene-styrene/styrene-butadiene block copolymer, a styrene-butadiene block copolymer, a styrene-ethylene- butylene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene-ethylene- butylene-styrene/styrene-ethylene-butylene block copolymer and a styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene/styrene-ethylene- propylene block copolymer, and mixtures thereof; a tackifier; and a styrene isoprene di-block copolymer.

2. A composition as recited in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive has a single glass transition temperature value.

3- A composition as recited in claim 2, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive has a tangent delta value at 20°C which is increased by at least 5% compared to the tangent delta value measured in the absence of the styrene 5 isoprene di-block copolymer, and wherein the glass transition temperature is no greater than 15 0 C, and wherein the shear adhesion failure temperature is not decreased more than 5°P compared to the shear adhesion failure temperature measured in the absence of the styrene isoprene 10 di-block copolymer.

4. A composition as recited in claim 2, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive has a tangent delta value at 20 0 C which is increased by at least 10% compared to the tangent delta value measured in the absence of the styrene isoprene di-block copolymer, and wherein the glass transition temperature is no greater than 15°C, and wherein the shear adhesion failure temperature is not decreased more than 5SF compared to the shear adhesion failure [I:\l)ayl ib\lIBFFj04120a.doc:gcc temperature measured in the absence of the styrene isoprene copolymer.

S. A composition as recited in claim 1, wherein the styrene isoprene di-block copolymer has an absolute molecular weight of less than 70,000.

6. A composition as recited in any of claims I to 5, wherein the tackifier is present in an amount of about 5t to 70V~ by weight and the styrene isoprene di-block copolymer is present in an amount of about 3% to 40t by weight.

7. A composition as claimed in claims 1 to 6, wherein the composition further contains a plasticizer, the plasticizer being composed of a styrene isoprene di-bJlock copolymer and a normally liquid tackifier.

8. A composition as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plasticizer is composed of a styrene isoprene di-block copolymer and a processing oil in a weight ratio of about 1;2 to 1:0.5.

9. A composition as recited in claim 7, wherein the elastomer is present in an amount of about 10% to by weight, the tackifier is present in an amount of about 5V to 70V~ by weight, the plasticizer is present in an es5 amount of about 3V to 40% by weight, and the styrene isoprene di-block copolymer and processing oil is present in a ratio of about 1:2 to 1!0.5. A laminate suitable for use as a label, comprising a face stock, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer, and a release liner, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive layer consists essentially of the composition of claims 1 to 9. I Ih\IA. 1311:1041 20ai. (oe:gee I I 1. A composition for a pressure sensitive adhesive, consisting essentially of: an elastomer selected from the group consisting of a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene-isoprene-styrene/styrene-isoprene block copolymer, a styrene-butadiene- styrene block copolymer, a styrene-butadiene-styrene/styrene-butadiene block copolymer, a styrene- butadiene block copolymer, a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene- ethylene-butylene-styrene/styrene-ethylene-butylene block copolymer and a styrene-ethylene- propylene-styrene/styrene-ethylene-propylene block copolymer, and mixtures thereof; a tackifier; and a styrene isoprene copolymer, the styrene isoprene copolymer having a viscosity sufficient to increase the tangent delta value at 20 0 C compared to the tangent value measured in the absence of the styrene isoprene copolymer, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive has a single glass transition temperature value. 2. A composition as recited in claim 1, wherein the tangent delta value at 20°C is increased by at least and wherein the glass transition temperature is no greater than 15°C, and wherein the ii0 shear adhesion failure temperature is not decreased compared to the shear adhesion failure temperature measured in the absence of the styrene isoprene copolymer. 3. A composition as recited in claim 1, wherein the tangent delta value at 20°C is increased by at least 10%, and wherein the glass transition temperature is no greater than 15°C, and wherein the shear adhesion failure temperature is not decreased compared to the shear adhesion failure N temperature measured in the absence of the styrene isoprene copolymer. 4. A composition as recited in claim 1, wherein the tangent delta value at 20°C is increased by at least and wherein the glass transition temperature is no greater than 10°C, and wherein the shear adhesion failure temperature is not decreased compared to the shear adhesion failure temperature measured in the absence of the styrene isoprene copolymer. A composition as recited in claim 1, wherein the tangent delta value at 20°C is increased by at least and wherein the glass transition temperature is not greater than 15°C, and wherein the shear adhesion failure temperature is not decreased compared to the shear adhesion failure temperature measured in the absence of the styrene isoprene copolymer. 6. A composition as recited in claim 1, wherein the tangent delta value at 20°C is increased Sby at least 10%, and wherein the glass transition temperature is not greater than 10°C, and wherein the shear adhesion failure temperature is not decreased compared to the shear adhesion failure temperature measured in the absence of the styrene isoprene copolymer. 7. A composition for a pressure sensitive adhesive, consisting essentially of: an elastomer selected from the group consisting of a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene-isoprene-styrene/styrene-isoprene block copolymer, a styrene-butadiene- I [A1)avA [Ai.1 I I i 14 I I I styrene block copolymer, a styrene-butadiene-styrene/styrene-butadiene block copolymer, a styrene- butadiene block copolymer, a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene- ethylene-butylene-styrene/styrene-ethylene-butylene block copolymer and a styrene-ethylene- propylene-styrene/styrene-ethylene-propylene block copolymer, and mixtures thereof; a tackifier present in an amount of about 5% to 70% by weight; and a styrene isoprene copolymer present in an amount of about 3% to 40% by weight, the styrene isoprene copolymer having a viscosity sufficient to increase the tangent delta value at compared to the tangent value measured in the absence of the styrene isoprene copolymer, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive has a single glass transition temperature value. 8. A composition as claimed in claim 7, wherein the elastomer is present in an amount of about 30%, the tackifier is present in an amount of about 55%, and the styrene isoprene copolymer is present in an amount of about 5% to 9. A composition for a pressure sensitive adhesive, comprising: an elastomer selected from the group consisting of a styrene-isoprene-styrene block Scopolymer, a styrene-isoprene-styrene/styrene-isoprene block copolymer, a styrene-butadiene- styrene block copolymer, a styrene-butadiene-styrene/styrene-butadiene block copolymer, a styrene- butadiene block copolymer, a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene- ethylene-butylene-styrene/styrene-ethylene-butylene block copolymer and a styrene-ethylene- propylene-styrene/styrene-ethylene-propylene block copolymer, and mixtures thereof; i0 a tackifier; and a plasticiser, said plasticiser being composed of styrene isoprene copolymer and processing oil, the styrene isoprene copolymer having a viscosity sufficient to increase the tangent delta value at 20°C compared to the tangent delta value measured in the absence of the styrene isoprene copolymer, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive has a single glass transition temperature.

10. A composition for a pressure sensitive adhesive, comprising: an elastomer selected from the group consisting of a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene-isoprene-styrene/styrene-isoprene block copolymer, a styrene-butadiene- styrene block copolymer, a styrene-butadiene-styrene/styrene-butadiene block copolymer, a styrene- butadiene block copolymer, a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene- Sethylene-butylene-styrene/styrene-ethylene-butylene block copolymer and a styrene-ethylene- propylene-styrene/styrene-ethylene-propylene block copolymer, and mixtures thereof; a tackifier; and a plasticiser, said plasticiser being composed of styrene isoprene copolymer and normally liquid tackifier, the styrene isoprene copolymer having a viscosity sufficient to increase the tangent Sdelta value at 20°C compared to the tangent delta value measured in the absence of the styrene 11 \l )aIN h~\I .1 B 1:11041I20ii. doe: gee 18 isoprene copolymer, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive has a single glass transition temperature value.

11. A composition as recited in claim 9, wherein said elastomer is present in an amount of about 10% to 55% by weight, said tackifier is present in an amount of about 5% to 70% by weight, said plasticiser is present in an amount of about 3% to 40% by weight, and said styrene isoprene copolymer and processing oil is present in a ratio of about 1:2 to 1:0.5.

12. A composition as recited in claim 11 wherein the elastomer is present in an amount of about 30%, the tackifier is present in an amount of about 55%, and the plasticiser is present in an amount of about

13. A composition as recited in claim 10, wherein said elastomer is present in an amount of about 10% to 55% by weight, said tackifier is present in an amount of about 5% to 70% by weight, said plasticiser is present in an amount of about 3% to 40% by weight, and said styrene isoprene copolymer and normally liquid tackifier is present in a ratio of about 1:2 to 1:0.5.

•14. A composition as recited in claim 13 wherein the elastomer is present in an amount of Sabout 30%, the tackifier is present in an amount of about 55%, and the plasticiser is present in an amount of about

15. A composition for a pressure sensitive adhesive, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the examples but excluding the comparative examples. I \I )a I. ih\I .1I II'104 1 I I 1. A composition for a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive, consisting essentially o1: an elastomer selected from the group consisting of a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene-butadiene-styrene/styrene-butadiene block copolymer, a styrene- butadiene block copolymer, a styrene-ethylene-butylcne-styrene block copolymer, a styrene- ethylene-butylene-styrene/styrenc-ethylene-butylene block copolymer and a styrene- ethylene-propylene-styrene/styrene-ethylene-propylene block copolymer and mixtures thereof: a tackifier; and a styrene isoprene copolymer, the styrene isoprene copolymer having a viscosity sufficient to increase the tangent delta value at 20 0 C compared to the tangent delta value measured in the absence of the styrene isoprene copolymer, wherein the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive has a single glass transition temperature value. 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the tangent delta value at 20 0 C is increased by at least and wherein the glass transition temperature is no greater than 15°C, and wherein the shear adhesion failure temperature is not decreased compared to the shear adhesion failure temperature measured in the absence of the styrene isoprene copolymer. 3 The composition of claim 1 wherein the tangent delta value at 20 0 C is increased by at least 10%, and wherein the glass transition temperature is not greater than 15°C, and 2( wherein the shear adhesion failure temperature is not decreased compared to the shear adhesion failure temperature measured in the absence of the styrene isoprene copolymer. 4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the tangent delta value at 20 0 C is increased by at least and wherein the glass transition temperature is no greater than 10 0 C, and wherein the shear adhesion failure temperature is not increased compared to the shear adhesion failure temperature measured in the absence of the styrene isoprene copolymer. The composition of claim 1 wherein the tangent delta value at 20 0 C is increased by at least and wherein the glass transition temperature is no greater than 15°C, and wherein the shear adhesion failure temperature is increase compared to the shear adhesion failure temperature measured in the absence of the styrene isoprene copolymer. 6. The composition of claim 1 wherein the tangent delta value at 20 0 C is increased hb at least 10%, and wherein the glass transition temperature is not greater than 10°C, and wherein the shear adhesion failure temperature is increased compared to the shear adhesion failure temperature measured in the absence of styrene isoprene copolymer. II:\I);Ix I b\I I BI 2 I:104120a.doc gec I 7. A composition for a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive, consisting essentially o 1: an elastomer selected from the group consisting of a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene-butadiene-styrene/styrene-butadiene block copolymer, a styrene- butadiene block copolymer, a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene- ethylene-butylene-styrene/styrene-ethylene-butylene block copolymer and a styrene- ethylene-propylene-styrene/styrenc-ethylene-propylene block copolymer and mixtures thereof present in an amount of about 30% to about 38% by weight; a tackifier present in an amount of about 5% to 70% by weight; and a styrene isoprene copolymer present in an amount of about 5% to 15% by weight, the styrene isoprene copolymer having a viscosity sufficient to increase the tangent delta value at 20 0 C compared to the tangent delta value measured in the absence of the stvrcne isoprene copolymer, wherein the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive has a single glass transition temperature value. i8. The composition of claim 7 wherein the elastomer is present in an amount of about 30% by weight. 9. A composition for a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive, comprising: an elastomer selected from the group consisting of a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene-butadiene-styrene/styrene-butadiene block copolymer, a styrene- Ibutadiene block copolymer, a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene- ethylene-butylene-styrene/styrene-ethylene-butylene block copolymer and a styrene- elthylene-propylene-styrene/styrene-ethylene-propylene block copolymer and mixtures thereof: a tackifier; and a plasticizer, said plasticizer being composed of styrene isoprene copolymer and processing oil, the styrene isoprene copolymer having a viscosity sufficient to increase the tangent delta value at 20 0 C compared to the tangent delta value measured in the absence of the styrene isoprene copolymer, wherein the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive has a single glass transition temperature value. 111 10. The composition of claim 13 wherein the elastomer is present in an amount of .about the tackifier is present in an amount of about 55%, and the plasticizer is present in an aimount of about I 1. A composition for a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive, comprising: an elastomer selected from the group consisting of a styrene-butadiene-styrene Sblock copolymer. a styrene-butadiene-styrene/styrene-butadiene block copolymer, a styrene- Da ib\HBIiiJij04120a.doc:,_Icc butadiene block copolymer, a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene- ethylene-butylene-styrene/styrene-ethylene-butylene block copolymer and a styrene- cthylene-propylene-styrene/styrene-ethylene-propylene block copolymer and mixtures thereof: a tackifier; and a plasticizer, said plasticizer being composed of styrene isoprene copolymer and n1ormally liquid tackifier, the styrene isoprene copolymer having a viscosity sufficient to increase the tangent delta value at 20 0 C compared to the tangent delta value measured in the absence of the styrene isoprene copolymer, wherein the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive In lhas a single glass transition temperature value. 12. The composition of claim 14 wherein the elastomer is present in an amount of about 30%, the tackifier is present in an amount of about 55%, and the plasticizer is present in an amount of about 13. The composition of claim 9, wherein said elastomer is present in an amount of Sabout 10% to 55% by weight, said tackifier is present in an amount of about 5% to 70% by weight, said plasticizer is present in an amount of about 3% to 40% by weight, and said styrene isoprene copolymer and processing oil is present in a ratio of about 1:2 to 1:0.5. 14. The composition of claim 11, wherein said elastomer is present in an amount of about 10% to 55% by weight, said tackifier is present in an amount of about 5% to 7 0% by 2 weight. said plasticizer is present in an amount of about 3% to 40% by weight, and said styrene isoprene copolymer and normally liquid tackifier is present in a ratio of about 1:2 to a 1:0.5. 15. A composition for a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive, comprising: an elastomer present in an amount of about 10% to about 55% by weight Sselected from the group consisting of a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene- isoprene-styrene/styrene-isoprene block copolymer, a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymcr, a styrene-butadiene-styrene/styrene-butadiene block copolymer, a styrene- butadiene block copolymer, a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene- cthylnclc-butylene-styrenc/styrene-ethylene-butylene block copolymer and a styrene- et eihylene-propylene-styrene/styrene-ethylene-propylene block copolymer and mixtures thereol'; a tackifier present in an amount ranging of about 5%0 to about 70% by weight; and a plasticizer present in an amount ranging from about 3 to about 40% by eight, the plasticizer being composed of styrene isoprene copolymer and processing oil, Ii L)ayi Iib\l I 1I1 F124 0Ia.doc: cc the styrene isoprene copolymer having a viscosity sufficient to increase the tangent delta value at 20 0 C compared to the tangent delta value measured in the absence of the styrene isoprene copolymer, wherein the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive has a single glass transition temperature value and the styrene isoprene copolymer and processing oil is Spresent in a ratio of about 1:2 to 1:0.5.

16. The composition of claim 15, wherein the elastomer is present in an amount of about 30%. the tackifier is present in an amount of about 55%, and the plasticizer is present in an amount of about

17. A composition for a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive, comprising: I an elastomer present in an amount of about 10% to about 55% by weight selected from the group consisting of a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer. a styrene- •isoprene-styrene/styrene-isoprene block copolymer, a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer. a styrene-butadiene-styrene/styrene-butadiene block copolymer, a styrene- butadiene block copolymer, a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer, a styrene- I ethylene-butylene-styrene/styrenc-ethylene-butylene block copolymer and a styrene- ethylene-propylene-styrene/styrene-ethylene-propylene block copolymer and mixtures thereof; a tackifier present in an amount of about 5% to about 70% by weight; and a plasticizer present in an amount of about 3% to about 40% by weight, the plasticizer being composed of styrene isoprene copolymer and normally liquid tackifier, the styrene isoprene copolymer having a viscosity sufficient to increase the tangent delta value at 20 0 C compared to the tangent delta value measured in the absence of the styrene isoprene copolymer, wherein the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive has a single glass transition temperature value and the styrene isoprene copolymer and normally liquid tackifier is present in a ratio ol about 1:2 to 1:0.5. I8. The composition of claim 17, wherein the elastomer is present in an amount of about 30%0. the tackifier is present in an amount of about 55%, and the plasticizer is present in an amount of about I I. i 1\ Ii:1E14i20a.doc:gecc 1 9. A composition for a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive, substantially as bercinbeib0re described with reference to any one of the examples, excluding the comparative examples. Dated 26 November, 1999 ATO Findley Inc. P~atent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON I 1\I):~ivlih\I1311 2 1041I20ai.doc:g-c