Supramolecular Polymeric Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive That Can Be Directly Operated at Low Temperatures

Low-temperature adhesion is ubiquitous in daily life and industry. However, most supramolecular adhesives are thermoplastic materials that require heating during the adhesion. Herein, a supramolecular approach is used to construct unique pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) that can be directly operated at low temperatures (-60 degrees C). Supramolecular polymerization between phytic acid (PA) and water (H) endows poly(PA-H)s with excellent mechanical properties and low temperature adhesion capacity. Poly(PA-H)s can easily be processed into PSA tapes, pastes, and particles. Poly(PA-H)s were directly adhered to various surfaces by pressing at low temperatures (0 to -60 degrees C). No heating or high-temperature-induced solid-liquid transition was required for the low-temperature adhesion of poly(PA-H)s. With the help of structural water units in supramolecular polymers, poly(PA-H)s showed strong, stable, and organic solvent resistant adhesion performances at low temperatures, with adhesion strength of up to 3.61 MPa at -60 degrees C.

Automated summary

This article introduces a new type of pressure-sensitive adhesive that can be directly operated at low temperatures and exhibits excellent mechanical properties and adhesion capacity. The results of the study show that the adhesive has strong adhesion strength at -60 degrees Celsius and can stably adhere to various surfaces.