HOT MELT ADHESIVE COMPOSITIONS THAT INCLUDE ETHYLENE COPOLYMER

BACKGROUND

The invention is directed to hot melt adhesive compositions that include one or more ethylene copolymers, no greater than about 27 % by weight of a tackifying agent and a wax.

Hot melt adhesive compositions are solid at room temperature and melt at higher temperatures. Hot melt adhesive compositions can be used in packaging applications e.g. to close box tops and also to form cases, cartons and/or trays. Hot melt adhesives used in packaging should exhibit good bond formation across a broad temperature range, heat resistance, and a fast set time to be commercially useful.

Hot melt adhesive compositions for packaging are made from a variety of different base polymers including ethylene based copolymers (e.g.ethylene vinyl acetate). Hot melt adhesive compositions for packaging can include tackifying agent and wax as well. The tackifying agent used with ethylene vinyl acetate type polymers is often a polar tackifying agent such as e.g. rosin or functionalized terpene based resin. In some applications, it can be desirable to use a hydrogenated hydrocarbon based tackifying agent to lower the color of the hot melt adhesive. At times, it would further be useful to be able to limit the tackifying agent in the hot melt adhesive composition. SUMMARY

In one aspect, the invention features a hot melt adhesive composition including from about 40 % to about 85 % by weight of an ethylene copolymer derived from ethylene and a co-monomer selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate, alkyl acrylate, alkyl methacrylate, and combinations thereof, no greater than about 27 % by weight of a tackifying agent, and from about 15 % to about 35 % by weight of a synthetic wax; wherein the ethylene copolymer has a melt index (190 °C, 2.16 kgs) of at least about 450 g/10 min and a comonomer content of no greater than 27 % by weight, said hot melt adhesive composition having a viscosity at 177 °C of no greater than about 2000 cps. In one embodiment, the ethylene copolymer is derived from ethylene and vinyl acetate.

In another embodiment, the ethylene copolymer has a comonomer content of no greater than about 20 % by weight. In a different embodiment, the ethylene copolymer has a melt index (190 °C, 2.16 kgs) of at least about 1000 g/10 min.

In one embodiment, the tackifying agent is a hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin with a melt point of at least about 110 °C. In another embodiment, the tackifying agent is a hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin with an aromatic content of no greater than about 15 % by weight. In a different embodiment, the sum of the ethylene copolymer, the tackifying agent and the synthetic wax comprises at least 90 % by weight of the composition.

In one embodiment, the hot melt adhesive composition is free of a functionlized wax.

In another embodiment, the hot melt adhesive composition further comprises a styrene block copolymer. In a different embodiment, the hot melt adhesive composition has a viscosity at 149 °C of no greater than about 1500 cps.

In still another embodiment, the hot melt adhesive composition has a MEC set speed of no greater than about 2 seconds and a heat stress resistance of no less than about 51.7 °C. In a different embodiment, the hot melt adhesive composition has a viscosity change of no greater than 12 % after 2-weeks, when tested according to the Thermal Stability Test Method.

In a different aspect, the invention includes a hot melt adhesive composition including from about 35 % by weight to about 65 % by weight of an ethylene copolymer derived from ethylene and a co-monomer selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate, alkyl acrylate, alkyl methacrylate, and combinations thereof, no greater than about 27 % by weight of a tackifying agent, and at least about 15 % of a wax; wherein the ethylene copolymer has a MI of at least about 1000 (190 °C, 2.16 kgs) and a comonomer content of no greater than about 18 % by weight.

In one embodiment, the hot melt adhesive composition further comprises a single-site catalyzed polyethylene copolymer. In a different embodiment, the ethylene copolymer comprises an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer and an ethylene n-butyl acrylate copolymer.

In one embodiment, the ethylene copolymer has a MI of at least about 1400 (190 °C, 2.16 kgs). In a different embodiment, the hot melt adhesive composition has a viscosity at 149 °C of no greater than about 1500 cps. In one aspect, the invention features a package including the hot melt adhesive composition, a first substrate comprising fibers; and a second substrate comprising fibers, the second substrate bonded to the first substrate through the hot melt adhesive composition.

In one embodiment, the package is selected from a carton, case or tray. In a different embodiment, the hot melt adhesive composition is applied to the first or second substrate at an application temperature of less than about 163°C.

The invention features a hot melt adhesive composition that includes an ethylene copolymer, a limited amount of tackifying agent and a wax. The hot melt adhesive compositions maintain exceptional color and viscosity stability after heat aging for several weeks at 177°C, good bonding over a broad temperature range, high heat resistance and a fast speed of set.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments and from the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION HOT MELT ADHESIVE COMPOSITION

The hot melt adhesive composition includes from about 35 % to about 85 % by weight of one or more ethylene copolymers derived from ethylene and a co-monomer selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate, alkyl acrylate, alkyl methacrylate, and combinations thereof, no greater than about 27 % by weight of a tackifying agent and a wax.

The hot melt adhesive composition exhibits a fast set time. The hot melt adhesive can have a set time of no greater than 3 seconds, no greater than 2 seconds, or even no greater than 1.5 seconds. The hot melt adhesive composition also exhibits a fiber tearing bond to fibrous packaging materials at both low and high temperatures. The hot melt adhesive composition can exhibit a fiber tear of greater than 25 %, greater than 30 %, greater than 40 %, greater than 45 %, greater than 50 %, or even greater than 70 % fiber tear at 4 °C, -18 °C, or even at -29 °C, and greater than 25 %, greater than 30 %, greater than 40 %, greater than 45 %, greater than 50 %, or even greater than 70 % fiber tear at 60 °C.

The hot melt adhesive composition also exhibits good heat stress resistance, preferably a heat stress resistance of at least 50 °C, at least 54 °C, at least 60 °C, or even at least 63 °C. The hot melt adhesive composition preferably exhibits a viscosity of no greater than 5000 cP, no greater than about 3000 cP, no greater than about 2000 cP, no greater than about 1500 cP. no greater than about 1200 cP, or even no greater than about 1000 cP at 177 °C. The hot melt adhesive composition can be formulated to exhibit a viscosity of no greater than 2000 cP, no greater than about 1500 cP, no greater than about 1300 cP, or even no greater than about 1200 cP at 149 °C, or even at 135 °C.

The hot melt adhesive has good thermal stability. In one embodiment, the hot melt adhesive has a viscosity change of no greater than about 15 %, no greater than about 12 %, or even no greater than about 10 % after aging for two weeks according to the Thermal Stability Test Method.

The hot melt adhesive can be free of a functionalized wax ETHYLENE COPOLYMER

The hot melt adhesive composition includes an ethylene copolymer. The ethylene copolymer can comprise one or more ethylene copolymers.

The ethylene copolymer is derived from ethylene and a co-monomer that includes vinyl unsaturation examples of which include vinyl acetate, alkyl acrylate, alkyl methacrylate, and combinations thereof. Useful ethylene copolymers include, e.g., ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene acrylate, ethylene methacrylate, ethylene methyl methacrylate, ethylene n- butylacrylate, ethylene 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate, ethylene octyl acrylate and combinations thereof.

The ethylene copolymer has a melt index of at least about 450 g/10 min, at least about 500 g/10 min, at least about 1000 g/10 min, at least about 1200 g/10 min, at least about 1400 g/10 min, at least about 2000 g/10 min, from about 450 g/10 min to about 3000 g/10 min, or even from about 500 g/10 min to about 2500 g/10 min at 190 °C when tested according to ASTM D 1238-04C using a 2.16 kg weight.

The ethylene copolymer preferably has an acid number of no greater than 3 milligrams (mg) potassium hydroxide (KOH) per gram (g) of ethylene copolymer, no greater than 2 mg KOH/g, or even no greater than 1 mg KOH/g, as determined according to ASTM D- 1994-07.

The ethylene copolymer has a comonomer content of no greater than 27 % by weight, no greater than 26 %, no greater than about 22 % by weight, no greater than about 20 % by weight, no greater than about 18 % by weight, from about 10 % by weight to 27 % by weight, or even from about 14 % by weight to about 20 % by weight.

Useful ethylene copolymers are available under a variety of trade designations including, e.g., ESCORENE MV 02514 (14-2500), ESCORENE MV 02528 (28-2500), ECORENE UL 7510 (18-500) and ESCORENE UL 8705 (28-800) - all ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers and ENBA EN 33900 (33-900), ethylene n-butyl acrylate copolymer available from ExxonMobil Chemical Company (Houston, Texas), ATEVA 1880A (18-500) ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer available from Celanese (Irving, Texas) and ALCUDIA PA-407 (14- >1500) ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer available from Repsol (Madrid, Spain). The values in parenthesis after the product name are (Comonomer weight % - melt index (190°C, 2.16 kgs )).

If more than one ethylene copolymer is present in the composition, the melt index and comonomer content are a weight average of the grades present. As an example, if the composition contained 25% EVA (14-2500) and 25% EVA (18-500), the melt index would be equal to 1500 i.e. (25/50 *(2500) + 25/50 * (500)).

The hot melt adhesive composition includes at least about 35% by weight, at least about 40% by weight, at least about 45 % by weight, at least about 50 % by weight, at least about 55 % by weight, from about 35 % by weight to about 65% by weight, from about 40 % by weight to about 85 % by weight, from about 45 % by weight to about 85 %, from about 50 % by weight to about 80 %, by weight, from about 45 % by weight to about 65 % by weight, or even from about 45 % by weight to about 55 % by weight of the ethylene copolymer.

TACKIFYING AGENT

The hot melt adhesive composition includes a tackifying agent. Suitable classes of tackifying agents include, e.g., aromatic, aliphatic and cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon resins, mixed aromatic and aliphatic modified hydrocarbon resins, aromatic modified aliphatic hydrocarbon resins, and hydrogenated versions thereof; terpenes, modified terpenes and hydrogenated versions thereof; natural rosins, modified rosins, rosin esters, and hydrogenated versions thereof; low molecular weight polylactic acid; and combinations thereof. Examples of useful natural and modified rosins include gum rosin, wood rosin, tall oil rosin, distilled rosin, hydrogenated rosin, dimerized rosin, and polymerized rosin. Examples of useful rosin esters include e.g., glycerol esters of pale wood rosin, glycerol esters of hydrogenated rosin, glycerol esters of polymerized rosin, pentaerythritol esters of natural and modified rosins including pentaerythritol esters of pale wood rosin, pentaerythritol esters of hydrogenated rosin, pentaerythritol esters of tall oil rosin, phenolic-modified pentaerythritol esters of rosin, and combinations thereof. Examples of useful polyterpene resins include polyterpene resins having a softening point, as determined by ASTM method E28-58T, of from about 10 °C to about 160 °C, hydrogenated polyterpene resins, and copolymers and terpolymers of natural terpenes (e.g. styrene-terpene, alpha-methyl styrene-terpene and vinyl toluene-terpene), and combinations thereof. Examples of useful aliphatic and cycloaliphatic petroleum hydrocarbon resins include aliphatic and cycloaliphatic petroleum hydrocarbon resins having Ring and Ball softening points of from about 10 °C to 160 °C, the hydrogenated derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. Suitable aliphatic and cycloaliphatic petroleum hydrocarbon resins include, e.g., branched, unbranched, and cyclic CS resins, C9 resins, and CIO resins.

The tackifying agent can be a hydrocarbon resin. It can further be a hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin. In one embodiment, the hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin has an aromatic content of less than about 15% by weight, or even less than about 10% by weight.

The tackifying agent can have a softening point of at least about 100 °C, at least about 110 °C, at least about 120 °C, or even at least about 125 °C.

Useful tackifying agents are commercially available under a variety of trade designations including, e.g., the ESCOREZ series of trade designations from ExxonMobil Chemical Company (Houston, Texas) including, e.g., ESCOREZ 5400, ESCOREZ 5415, ESCOREZ 5600, ESCOREZ 5615, ESCOREZ 5637, and ESCOREZ 5690, Ihe EASTOTAC series of trade designations from Eastman Chemical Company (Kingsport, Tennessee) including, e.g., EASTOTAC H-100R, EASTOTAC H-100L, EASTOTAC H130W, and EASTOTAC H142, the WINGTACK series of trade designations from Cray Valley HSC (Exton, Pennsylvania) including, e.g., WINGTACK 86, WINGTACK EXTRA, and

WINGTACK 95, the PICCOTAC series of trade designations from Eastman Chemical Company (Kingsport, Tennessee) including, e.g„ PICCOTAC 8095, the ARKON series of trade designations from Arkawa Europe GmbH (Germany) including, e.g., ARKON P-125, and the REGALITE series of trade designations from Eastman Chemical Company including, e.g., REGALITE Rl 125. The hot melt adhesive composition includes no greater than about 27% by weight of a tackifying agent, no greater than about 25% by weight of a tackifying agent, from about 5 % by weight to about 27 % by weight, at least about 10 % by weight, at least about 15% by weight, from about 10 % by weight to about 27% by weight, from about 15 % by weight to about 25 % by weight, or even from about 20 % by weight to about 25 % by weight tackifying agent.

WAX

The hot melt adhesive composition includes a wax. Classes of useful waxes include, e.g., functionalized waxes (waxes that include a polar functional group), non-functionalized waxes (i.e., waxes that do not include a polar functional group), and mixtures thereof.

Useful functionalized waxes include, e.g., functionalized polyethylene wax (e.g., maleated polyethylene wax and oxidized polyethylene wax), functionalized polypropylene wax (e.g., maleated polypropylene wax and oxidized polypropylene wax), polar waxes, functionalized stearamide waxes (e.g., hydroxystearamide, N-(2-hydroxy ethyl)- 12- hydroxystearamide, Ν,Ν'-ethylene bis 12-hydroxystearamide, and 12-hydroxy stearic acid N,N'ethylene-bis stearamide), and combinations thereof.

Useful non-functionalized waxes include, e.g., synthenic waxes (e.g. Fischer Tropsch waxes and polyolefin waxes (e.g., polypropylene waxes and polyethylene waxes)), stearamide waxes, benzoate ester waxes, animal waxes, vegetable waxes, paraffin waxes,

microcrystalline waxes, metallocene waxes, glycerin monostearate, sorbitan monostearate, and combinations thereof.

The wax can be a synthetic wax selected from the group consisting of polypropylene waxes, polyethylene waxes and Fischer-Tropsch waxes.

Useful synthetic polypropylene waxes are commercially available under a variety of trade designations including, e.g., HONEYWELL AC 1089 from Honeywell Int'l Inc. and LICOCENE 6102 from Clariant Int'l Ltd. (Muttenz, Switzerland).

Useful synthetic polyethylene waxes are commercially available under a variety of trade designations including, e.g., the POLYWAX series of trade designations including POLYWAX 3000 from Baker Hughes (Houston, Texas), CWP 400 from SSI CHUSEI, Inc. (Pasedena, Texas), the EPOLENE series of trade designations from Westlake Chemical Corporation (Houston, Texas) including, e.g., EPOLENE N-21 and N-14 polyethylene waxes, the BARECO series of trade designations from Baker Hughes Inc. (Sugar Land, Texas) including, e.g., BARECO C4040 polyethylene wax, and the AC series of trade designations from Honeywell Int'l Inc. (Morristown. New Jersey) including, e.g., A-C 8 and A-C 9 polyethylene waxes.

Useful synthetic Fischer Tropsch waxes are commercially available under a variety of trade designations including, e.g., the BARECO series of trade designations from Baker Hughes Inc. (Sugar Land, Texas) including, e.g., BARECO PX-100 and PX-105 Fischer Tropsch waxes, the SHELLWAX series of trade designations from Shell Malaysia Ltd.

(Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) including, e.g., SHELLWAX SX100 and SX105 Fischer Tropsch waxes, the VESTOWAX series of trade designations from Evonik Industries AG (Germany) including, e.g., VESTOWAX 2050 Fischer Tropsch wax, and the SASOLWAX series of trade designations from Sasol Wax North America Corporation (Hayward, California) including, e.g., SASOLWAX HI 05, C80, HI, and H4 Fischer Tropsch waxes.

In one embodiment, the wax is a blend of a synthetic wax and a paraffin wax.

The hot melt adhesive composition includes at least about 10 % by weight, at least about 15% by weight, at least about 20% by weight, from about 10 % by weight to about 40 % by weight, from about 15 % by weight to about 35 % by weight, or even from about 20 % by weight to about 30 % by weight of a wax.

ADDITIVES

The hot melt adhesive composition optionally includes a variety of additional components including, e.g., functionalized waxes, antioxidants, stabilizers, additional polymers, adhesion promoters, ultraviolet light stabilizers, rheology modifiers, corrosion inhibitors, colorants (e.g., pigments and dyes), fillers, flame retardants, nucleating agents, and combinations thereof.

Useful antioxidants include, e.g., pentaerythritol tetrakis[3,(3,5-di-tert-butyI-4- hydroxyphenyl)propionate], 2,2'-methylene bis(4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenoI), phosphites including, e.g., tris-(p-nonylphenyl)-phosphite (TNPP) and bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)4,4'- diphenylene-diphosphonite, di-stearyl-3,3'-thiodipropionate (DSTDP), and combinations thereof. Useful antioxidants are commercially available under a variety of trade designations including, e.g., the IRGANOX series of trade designations including, e.g., IRGANOX 1010, IRGANOX 565, and IRGANOX 1076 hindered phenolic antioxidants, and IRGAFOS 168 phosphite antioxidant, all of which are available from BASF Corporation (Florham Park, New Jersey), and ETHYL 702 4,4-methylene bis(2,6-di-tert-butylphenol) (Albemarle Corporation, Baton Rouge, Louisiana). When present, the adhesive composition preferably includes from about 0.1 % by weight to about 2 % by weight antioxidant.

Useful additional polymers include, e.g., homopolymers, copolymers, and terpolymers including, e.g., polyolefins (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, single site catalyzed polyolefins (e.g. metallocene-catalyzed polyolefins), and combinations thereof), elastomers including, e.g., elastomeric block copolymers (e.g., styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene- isoprene-styrene, styrene-ethylene/butene-styrene, styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene, metallocene-based elastomeric block copolymers, and combinations thereof), and

functionalized versions thereof, and combinations thereof. Examples of suitable

commercially available polymers include, e.g., EPOLENE C-15 branched polyethylene, and EPOLENE C- 10 branched polyethylene, which are available from Westlake Chemical Corporation (Houston, Texas), AFFINITY 1900 and 1950 ethylene-octene copolymers, which are available from Dow Chemical Co. (Midland, Michigan), VECTOR 4211 styrene-isoprene- styrene block copolymer available from TSRC / DEXCO (Houston, Texas) and KRATON G1643 M and G1657 M styrene-ethylene/butene-styrene block copolymers available from Kraton Polymers US LLC (Houston, Texas). The additional polymer is present at no greater than 30 % by weight, no greater than about 10 % by weight, no greater than about 5 % by weight, or even at from about 2 % by weight to about 30 % by weight.

Useful nucleating agents include, e.g., polymeric nucleating agents, minerals, amides, aromatic organic compounds, phosphate ester salts, organic salts and combinations thereof. Examples of suitable nucleating agents include polypropylene, polypropylene wax, polyethylene, polyethylene wax, polystyrene, poly(cyclohexylethylene), stearamides, anthraquinones, fatty acid amides, adipic acid, benzoic acid, benzoic acid salts, phosphate ester salts, sorbitols, kaolin, talc and combinations thereof. The nucleating agent preferably increases the set speed of the adhesive composition. USES

The hot melt adhesive composition can be applied to or incorporated in a variety of articles including, e.g., films (e.g., polyolefin films (e.g., polyethylene and polypropylene), polyester film, metalized polymer film, multi-layer film, and combinations thereof), fibers, substrates made from fibers (e.g., virgin fibers, recycled fibers, synthetic polymer fibers (e.g., nylon, rayon, polyesters, acrylics, polypropylenes, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane), cellulose fibers (e.g., natural cellulose fibers such as wood pulp), natural fibers (e.g., cotton, silk and wool), and glass fibers, and combinations thereof), release liners, porous substrates, cellulose substrates, sheets (e.g., paper, and fiber sheets), paper products, woven and nonwoven webs (e.g., webs made from fibers (e.g., yarn, thread, filaments, microfibers, blown fibers, and spun fibers) perforated films, and combinations thereof), tape backings, and combinations thereof.

The hot melt adhesive composition is useful for bonding a variety of substrates including, e.g., cardboard, coated cardboard, paperboard, fiber board, virgin and recycled kraft, high and low density kraft, chipboard, treated and coated kraft and chipboard, and corrugated versions of the same, clay coated chipboard carton stock, composites, leather, polymer (e.g., polyolefin (e.g., polyethylene and polypropylene), polyvinylidene chloride films, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyester, styrene, and polyamide), polymer film (e.g., polyolefin films (e.g., polyethylene and polypropylene), polyvinylidene chloride films, ethylene vinyl acetate films, polyester films, metalized polymer film, multi-layer film, and combinations thereof), fibers and substrates made from fibers (e.g., virgin fibers, recycled fibers, synthetic polymer fibers, cellulose fibers, and combinations thereof), release liners, porous substrates (e.g., woven webs, nonwoven webs, and perforated films), cellulose substrates, sheets (e.g., paper, and fiber sheets), paper products, tape backings, and

combinations thereof. Useful composites include, e.g., chipboard laminated to metal foil (e.g., aluminum foil), which optionally can be laminated to at least one layer of polymer film, chipboard bonded to film, Kraft bonded to film (e.g., polyethylene film), and combinations thereof.

The hot melt adhesive composition is useful for bonding a first substrate to a second substrate in a variety of applications and constructions including, e.g., packaging, bags, boxes, cartons, cases, trays, multi-wall bags, articles that include attachments (e.g., straws attached to drink boxes), ream wrap, cigarettes (e.g., plug wrap), filters (e.g., pleated filters and filter frames) and bookbinding.

The hot melt adhesive composition can be applied to a substrate in any useful form including, e.g., as fibers, as a coating (e.g., a continuous coatings and discontinuous coatings (e.g., random, pattern, and array)), as a bead, as a film (e.g., a continuous films and discontinuous films), and combinations thereof, using any suitable application method including, e.g., slot coating, spray coating (e.g., spiral spray, random spraying, and random fiberization (e.g., melt blowing)), foaming, extrusion (e.g., applying a bead, fine line extrusion, single screw extrusion, and twin screw extrusion), wheel application, noncontact coating, contacting coating, gravure, engraved roller, roll coating, transfer coating, screen printing, flexographic, "on demand" application methods, and combinations thereof.

The hot melt adhesive composition can be applied at an application temperature of no greater than about 190 °C, no greater than about 177 °C, no greater than about 163 °C, from about 121 °C to about 177 °C, or even from about 135 °C to about 163 °C.

In on demand hot melt application systems (which are also referred to as "tank free" and "tankless" systems), hot melt compositions are fed in a solid state (e.g., pellets), to a relatively small heating vessel (relative to traditional hot melt applications systems that include a pot) where the hot melt composition is melted and, typically shortly thereafter, the molten liquid is applied to a substrate. In on demand systems, a relatively large quantity of hot melt composition typically does not remain in a molten state for an extended period of time. In many existing on demand systems, the volume of molten hot melt composition is no greater than about 1 liter, or even no greater than about 500 milliliters, and the hot melt composition is maintained in a molten state for a relatively brief period of time, including, e.g., less than two hours, less than one hour, or even less than 30 minutes. Suitable on demand hot melt adhesive application systems include, e.g., InvisiPac Tank-Free Hot Melt Delivery System from Graco Minnesota Inc. (Minneapolis, Minnesota) and the Freedom Hot Melt Dispensing System from Nordson Corporation (Westlake, Ohio). On demand hot melt adhesive application systems are described in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2013-0105039, 2013-01 12709, 2013-01 12279, and 2014-0042182, and U.S. Patent No. 8,201,717, and incorporated herein. The invention will now be described by way of the following examples. All parts, ratios, percentages, and amounts stated in the Examples are by weight unless otherwise specified.

EXAMPLES

Test Procedures

Test procedures used in the examples include the following. The procedures are conducted at room temperature (i.e., an ambient temperature of from about 20 °C to about 25 °C) unless otherwise specified. Viscosity Test Method

Viscosity is determined in accordance with ASTM D-3236 entitled, "Standard Test Method for Apparent viscosity of Hot Melt Adhesives and Coating Materials," (October 31. 1988), using a Brookfield viscometer, a Brookfield Thermosel heated sample chamber, and a number 27 spindle. The results are reported in centipoise (cps).

Fiber Tear Test Method

The percentage fiber tear is the percentage of fiber that covers the area of the adhesive after two substrates, which have been previously bonded together through the adhesive, are separated by force. The percentage of fiber tear exhibited by an adhesive composition is determined as follows. A bead of the adhesive composition measuring 15.24 cm (6 inch) x 0.24 cm (3/32 inch) is applied to a first substrate of ROCKTENN 44 pound 87 % virgin liner board, using a ROCKTENN bond simulator at the specified application temperature. Two seconds after the bead of adhesive is applied to the first substrate, the bead of adhesive is contacted with a second substrate of ROCKTENN 44 pound 87 % virgin liner board, which is pressed against the adhesive and the first substrate with a pressure of 0.21 MPa (30 pounds per square inch (psi)) for a period of 2 seconds. The resulting constructions are then conditioned at room temperature for at least 4 hours and then conditioned at the specified test temperature for at least 12 hours. The substrates of the construction are then separated from one another at the conditioning temperature (e.g., immediately after removing the sample from the conditioning chamber) by pulling the two substrates apart from one another by hand. The surface of the adhesive composition is observed and the percent of the surface area of the adhesive composition that is covered by fibers is determined and recorded. A minimum of five samples are prepared and tested for each hot melt adhesive composition. The results are reported in units of % fiber tear. Set Time Test Method

A bead of adhesive composition measuring 15.24 cm (6 inch) x 0.24 cm (3/32 inch) is applied to a first substrate of ROCKTENN 44 pound 87 % virgin liner board, using a ROCKTENN bond simulator at the specified application temperature. A timer is started as the bead is applied to the first substrate. 0.4 seconds after the bead of adhesive is applied to the first substrate, the bead of adhesive is contacted with a second substrate of ROCKTENN 44 pound 87 % virgin liner board, which is pressed against the adhesive and the first substrate with a pressure of 0.21 MPa (30 pounds per square inch (psi)) for a period of 0.4 seconds. When the timer is at 3 seconds, the now formed bond is pulled apart. If the bond results in less than 100 % fiber failure, another bond is made and pulled after 3.5 seconds. In this manner, the amount of time that is allowed to elapse prior to pulling the bond is increased in 0.5 second increments until the set time is arrived upon. The set time is the shortest amount of time in which a pulled bond results in 100 % fiber failure. Once a set time is achieved, the test is repeated one more time to confirm the result. If the bond gives 100 % fiber failure at 3 seconds, the set time is recorded as no greater than 3 seconds. The results are reported in seconds (s).

MEC Set Speed

A bead of adhesive composition measuring 5.08 cm by 0.24 cm is applied to a first substrate of RockTenn 56SK-23ME-56SK high performance 44 pound ECT 87 % virgin liner board using a MEC ASM-15N Hot Melt Bond Simulator at 177 °C. Two seconds after the bead of adhesive is applied to the first substrate, the bead of adhesive is contacted with the second substrate of RockTenn 56SK-23ME-56SK high performance 44 pound ECT 87 % virgin liner board, which is then pressed against the first substrate with a pressure of 0.21 MPa and for a period of time (referred to herein as the compression time). The Bond

Simulator timer is started when the substrates are compressed. After a pre-programmed compression time the instrument separates the two substrates by pulling on the second substrate in the Z direction and holding the first substrate in a fixed position and the force required to separate the substrates and the amount of fiber tear present on the adhesive composition is measured. Samples are run in triplicate at each compression time. Initially, the compression time is 0.5 seconds. If the three samples fail to exhibit greater than 50 % Fiber Tear for each sample, the compression time is increased by 0.1 second and the test method is repeated until greater than 50 % fiber tear is noted for all three samples. The set time is recorded as the compression time at which the three samples achieve greater than 50 % fiber tear immediately upon separation. The set speed is recorded in seconds. Heat Stress Resistance Test Method

Heat stress resistance is measured according to standard number IOPP T-3006 entitled, "Suggested Test Method for Determining the Heat Stress Resistance of Hot Melt Adhesives," using a starting temperature of 46 °C (115 °F) and five bonded samples per adhesive. After 24 hours, the number of samples that are no longer supporting the weight is recorded, and the temperature is increased. The pass temperature for each adhesive, which is defined as the maximum temperature at which 80 % of the samples remain bonded, is the heat stress resistance and is reported in degrees Celsius (°C).

Thermal Stability Test Method

A 200 gram sample of hot melt adhesive composition is placed in a 400-ml pyrex beaker and conditioned in a temperature controlled oven at 177 °C for a set number of hours. The molten sample is removed from the oven. The molten sample is observed for the presence of gel, surface skin formation, and charring. The observations are recorded.

The sample is then tested according to the Viscosity test method and the measured viscosity is reported in centipoise.

Thermal stability is determined by change in viscosity and the presence or absence of charring or skinning. Molten Gardner Color (MGC)

A sample is conditioned according to the thermal conditioning procedure set forth in ASTM D-l 544 and then tested (in the molten state) to determine Gardner color by comparing the color of the sample against the Gardner Color Standards set forth in ASTM D-l 544. The comparison is made using a Gardner Delta Comparator equipped with an Illuminator available from Pacific Scientific (Bethesda, Maryland). The result is reported as the number corresponding to the Gardner Color Standard.

Examples

The example compositions were made in 300 gram batches. All the raw materials were placed into a pint size aluminum can. The can was placed in a 177 °C oven for 2-3 hours until all the raw materials were molten. The can was then placed in a heating mantle and mixed with an upright mixer for 30 minutes at 177 °C until homogeneous.