Supporting Information for Engineering Aliphatic Polyester Block Copolymer Blends for Hydrolytically Degradable Pressure Sensitive Adhesives

Abstract

This work aimed to explore aliphatic polyester triblock copolymers of poly(L–lactide)–block–poly(γ–methyl–ε–caprolactone)–block–poly(L–lactide) (LML) and associated blends with renewable tackifier in pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) formulations and investigate effects of tackifier, composition, and processing history on microstructural, thermal, mechanical, and adhesive properties of the PSAs. After solvent casting and two–step annealing at 170 °C for 60 min and 100 °C for 5 min, LML–based PSAs showed stable and competitive adhesion properties when compared to commercial PSAs, which we attribute to both microphase separation and crystallinity in the poly(L–lactide) end blocks. Moreover, theses LML–based PSA formulations are hydrolytically degradable into water soluble or dispersible compounds at 45 ℃ under basic conditions within 30 days, offering the possibility of sustainable end–of–life scenarios for example through industrial composting.