Polyethylene Adhesives

Polyethylene would appear to stick better to polyvinyl formal and butyral than to metals, and the application of a priming film of either of these is a method proposed for ensuring good adhesion of a polyethylene coating to metal. It is perhaps rather surprising that we are considering polyethylene here as an adhesive since it is a notoriously difficult material to bond unless the surface specially treated. Having made that comment, it is pertinent to mention an adhesive developed to bond to bond polyethylene. This adhesive, a partially hydrogenated polybutadiene with 8% unsaturation, is said to produce a vulcanized bond by heat sealing with the polyethylene.

The cross linking of a hot melt polyethylene adhesive in situ is possible by the addition of an organic peroxide having a suitable decomposition temperature. Furthermore, dicumyl peroxide has been utilised to bond with ethylenic polymer to an elastomer. It should be understood that polyethylene can be crosslinked to an extent where it may perhaps be classified as a thermosetting resin.