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Non Skid Hot Melt Compounds

The non skid feature is desired for many consumer products such as mouse pads, area rugs, table mats, and the standing parts of some furniture and appliances. To generate this non skid feature, both rubber and plastic foam are commonly used for this specific application. Most vulcanized rubber films require an adhesive to adhere them onto other materials. Plastic foams can be coated and adhered to certain materials in situations without adhesives. However, pre-foamed plastics also require certain adhesives for laminating purposes.

Thermoplastic compounds including some tackifying resins may provide sufficient hot tack to adhere on certain materials at elevated temperature and then impart good non skid performance at room temperature. Most Styrenic Block Copolymers (SBC) are good candidates for this purpose. Unfortunately, the melt viscosity of most commercially available SBCs alone is too high and is not extrude-able, coat-able or spray-able at temperature below 350F. Some molecular structure modifications of these SBCs or formulation for these SBCs are certainly needed.

If the MI (melt index) of SBCs can be raised to a very high value, e.g. 2000 g/10 min @ 190C, the SBC is then applicable by some commercially available hot melt applicators. To make a non skid compound by currently available SBCs, another possible technique is to introduce a specific oligomer which can significantly reduce the melt viscosity of selected SBC at application temperature, e.g. 350F. Additionally; the blended compound should offer good hot tack to adhere certain materials, and does not generate appreciable surface tackiness at room temperature.

In practice, if non skid hot melt compounds can be applied easily by common hot melt technology, they may replace lots of currently used plastic foams and vulcanized rubber films in many application markets. To develop SBC-based non skid compounds, following are two possible approaches. First, the MI of SBC should be raised in order to reduce melt viscosity. Secondly, a suitable oligomer is needed for selected SBCs. The oligomer can greatly lower the total melt viscosity into the workable temperature range; improve hot tack to adhere to most materials; and maintain low surface tack of the blended compounds.

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