US Patent 7399800 Temperature switchable adhesives comprising crystallizable abietic acid derivative-based tackifiers

Temperature switchable pressure sensitive adhesives comprising an elastomer and a crystallizable abietic acid derivative as tackifier are described. These pressure sensitive adhesives exhibit a sharp reduction in peel strength when the temperature is raised above the switching temperature. The adhesive properties of these adhesives may be readily tuned by adjusting the ratio of the elastomer and the crystallizable tackifier, and by altering the crystallizabe group on the tackifier. The temperature switchable pressure sensitive adhesives have use in medical, consumer, and industrial applications.