Adhesive composition and method

Abstract

An adhesive composition contains a block copolymer hot melt adhesive and a vapor releasing vapor corrosion inhibitor mixed with the block copolymer hot melt adhesive, the vapor corrosion inhibitor being in the form of particles suspended in the adhesive composition, the particles preferably having a maximum dimension of less than about 30 microns. One improvement results from inclusion in the adhesive mixture of a titanium and/or zirconium containing coupling agent, either separately or as part of the VCI particles. Another improvement results from blending the adhesive mixture in a continuous process using for example a twin screw extruder. As a result, the adhesive mixture has better uniformity and superior viscosity properties during use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing a corrosion inhibiting hot melt adhesive composition in multiple stages, the method comprising
 in a first stage at a first shear rate, melting an adhesive at a first temperature above 120° C.;   in a second stage, increasing the shear to a second shear rate and reducing the temperature below 120° C.;   in a third stage, adding a vapor corrosion inhibiting powder to the adhesive while maintaining a sufficient shear to maintain the temperature below 120° C. while providing melt flow for a sufficient time to disperse the powder in the adhesive, wherein the powder comprises a carrier and a vapor phase corrosion inhibitor.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive comprises an ABA block copolymer, wherein A is an ethylene homopolymer or copolymer block and B is an ethylene copolymer block different from A. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising, in a fourth stage, adding a tackifying resin 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising adding a coupling agent selected from the group consisting of organotitanates and organozirconates in the third stage to the vapor corrosion inhibiting powder. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , further comprising, in a fourth stage, adding a tackifying resin. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , comprising operating at a temperature of 125° C. to 150° C. in the first stage. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 5 , comprising operating at a temperature of 120° C. to 130° C. in the fourth stage. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 5 , comprising operating at a temperature of 100° C. or less in the third stage. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 5 , comprising operating at a temperature of 80° C. or less in the third stage. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 4 , comprising adding the particles and the coupling agents separately in the third stage. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 4 , comprising applying the coupling agent onto the particles before the particles are added in the third stage. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the composition comprises 0.1% to 5% by weight total titanate and zirconate. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 5 , comprising operating at a temperature of 130° C. to 150° C. in the first stage, at a temperature of 75° C. to 90° C. in the third stage, and at a temperature of 100° C. to 130° C. in the fourth stage. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising operating at a temperature of less than 105° C. in the third and fourth stage. 
     
     
         15 . A process according to  claim 1 , which is a continuous process. 
     
     
         16 . A method of compounding an adhesive composition in an extrusion apparatus, comprising
 melting an adhesive comprising a block copolymer;   introducing the molten hot melt adhesive into the barrel of the extruder;   cooling the melt below 90° C. while increasing shear in the barrel to maintain sufficient melt flow;   adding a titanate coupling agent and/or a zirconate coupling agent to the melt at a temperature of 90° C. or below;   adding a vapor corrosion inhibitor in particulate form to the melt; and   blending the hot melt adhesive, VCI, and titanate and/or zirconate coupling agent t 90° C. or less until the particles are dispersed in the hot melt adhesive.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the block copolymer has blocks produced by copolymerizing ethylene and at least one copolymerizable monomer. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the adhesive is an olefin block copolymer with a polydispersity of 1.0 to 2.9. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 16 , comprising adding the titanate or zirconate coupling agent to the melt at a temperature of 50° C. to 80° C. and blending the hot melt adhesive, VCI, and titanate or zirconate coupling agent at a temperature of 50° C. to 80° C. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 16 , comprising melting the hot melt adhesive at a temperature of 120° C. to 160° C. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising, after the particles are dispersed in the hot melt adhesive, continuing to apply shear at a temperature of 80° C. to 130° C. and adding a tackifying agent. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the coupling agent is added at a level to provide a total level of titanium and/or zirconium of 0.1% to 5% by weight in the finished adhesive composition. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the coupling agent and the VCI are added separately to the twin screw extruder. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the coupling agent and the VCI are added together to the twin screw extruder. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 16 , comprising combining the VCI and the coupling agent and adding the combination to the melt at a temperature below 90° C.