Thermal degradation of acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives based on copolymers of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and acrylic acid

The thermal degradation of acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) based on copolymers of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and acrylic acid has been conducted at about 230 degrees C using pyrolysis-gas chromatography. The types and amounts of the pyrolysis products give important information about of thermal degradation of acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives and the mechanism of their thermal degradation. It was observed that during the thermal degradation of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and acrylic acid copolymers such main decomposition products as corresponding alken (2-ethylhexen-1), corresponding alcohol (2-ethylhexanol-1) and unsaturated monomers such as 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate were formed.