Polyurethane (urea)/polyacrylates interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) adhesives for low surface energy materials

On the basis of the polymerization of the acrylate phase catalyzed by the oxidation of trialkylborane at room temperature, a series of polyurethane (urea)/polyacrylates adhesives with interpenetrating polymer network structure (IPNS) was synthesized. The crosslinking polyurethane (urea) phase was synthesized by the reaction between polymer diamine or triol and isocyanate. The resulting IPN adhesives as a function of the polyurethane (urea) or 2‐hydroxylethyl acrylate terminated polyurethane (HEA‐PU) (crosslinking agent of acrylate phase) content were explored. The adhesive morphology took on the IPNS that manifested as a finely dispersed polyurethane (urea) phase in the acrylate phase. Excellent adhesion to low surface energy materials was achieved within a wide range of polyurethane (urea) contents. The IPN adhesives also displayed better flexibility than polyacrylate adhesives with HEA‐PU as a crosslinking agent. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.