Tackifiers

Tackifiers are substances added to adhesives, inks, asphalt, and other materials to increase their initial adhesion or “tack.” In simple terms, they cause the materials to stick together and hold together until a final bond is achieved.

Why do we need adhesives?

Increasing initial adhesion: Tackifiers cause materials to stick together quickly and prevent them from slipping.
Improving adhesion properties: These substances can improve other properties of the adhesive, such as flexibility, heat resistance, and chemical resistance.
Adjusting viscosity: Tackifiers can adjust the viscosity (thickness) of the adhesive, allowing it to spread easily on different surfaces.

Types of Adhesives

Adhesives are divided into different types based on their origin and chemical structure:

Natural adhesives: such as natural resins (such as pine resin), vegetable oils and waxes
Synthetic adhesives: such as petrochemical resins (such as coumarone-indene resins), esters and synthetic polymers.
Modified adhesives: Natural or synthetic adhesives that have been modified to improve their properties.
Mechanism of action of adhesives
Adhesives increase adhesion by creating intermolecular forces between material particles. These forces can be van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonds or chemical bonds.

Van der Waals forces: These forces exist between all molecules and are the weakest type of intermolecular forces.
Hydrogen bonds: These bonds are created between molecules that have a hydrogen atom attached to an electronegative atom (such as oxygen or nitrogen).
Chemical bonds: These bonds are the strongest type of bonds and are created in some adhesives.

Applications of adhesives

Adhesive industry: In the production of pressure-sensitive adhesives, construction adhesives, industrial adhesives, etc.
Ink industry: In the production of printing inks, industrial inks, etc.
Asphalt industry: In the production of asphalt to improve adhesion between aggregates and bitumen.
Rubber industry: In the production of adhesive rubbers and sealants.

Advantages of using adhesives

Increase the speed of adhesion: Causes objects to adhere to each other quickly.
Increase the strength of adhesion: Causes the adhesion created to be stronger and more stable.
Improving the physical properties of the adhesive: Improves the flexibility, heat resistance, and chemical resistance of the adhesive.