Mechanisms of Peel Adhesion Enhancement by Tackifiers through a Comparative Analysis of Peel and Probe Tack Tests

PSAs containing two types of tackifiers with different compatibilities (rosin ester and terpene phenol) were evaluated using scanning probe microscopy (SPM) to observe the aggregation and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) to measure viscoelasticity. Subsequently, peel tests were conducted over a wide range of velocities from µm/s to mm/s. Probe-tack tests were also conducted within the same range of velocities to relate the rise in peel force with cavity generation and fibril elongation during the peeling process.