Facile one-pot synthesis and characterization of maleated hydrocarbon resin tackifier for improved adhesion

Abstract This work reports for the first time the facile method for grafting maleic anhydride (MAH) to solid C5-aliphatic hydrocarbon resin tackifier (HCR). MAH grafting has been carried out thermally (240°C) without using any peroxide. It has been shown that up to 30 wt% of MAH can be conveniently grafted to the HCR via thermal process. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy confirm that the MAH has been appended to the HCR. The effect of varying MAH concentration, reaction time and reaction temperature on the grafting efficiency (GE) has been reported. The grafting degree (wt%) and grafting efficiency (GE) of the maleated (MA-g-HCR) samples have been determined by FT-IR spectroscopy and solvent extraction. The MA-g-HCR samples have been thoroughly characterized by using gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, contact angle measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A steady increase in the molecular weight, glass transition temperature, melting point and maximum degradation temperature of the HCR tackifier has been observed with the increasing weight percentage of MAH grafting. It has been shown that the polar component of the surface energy of HCR resin can be increased up to 9±3 mN m−1 by grafting 30 wt% of MAH.