Thermo-activated dual-cure polyurethane PSA for enhanced nail adhesion

Overview

The thermo-activated dual-cure polyurethane (PU) pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) represents a significant advancement in nail adhesion technology. This innovative system utilizes a dual-functional liquid polyester polyol as its foundation, offering an immediate bond through a PU-based PSA and a secondary thermal crosslinking at body temperature. This dual-curing process eliminates the need for hazardous initiators, ensuring safety while maintaining exceptional adhesion performance. Designed for nail applications, this adhesive provides a strong and durable bond, outperforming conventional PSA systems.

Technical specifications

Key features:

• Dual-functional polyester polyol backbone enables dual-stage curing.
• Initial PU PSA provides immediate pressure-sensitive adhesion.
• Secondary radical crosslinking triggered by mild thermal process.
• Pre-cure at 50°C for a few minutes followed by full cure at body temperature.
• Stronger adhesion compared to traditional PSA systems used for artificial nails.

Technology readiness level

Currently at Technology Readiness Level 3, this adhesive system has been successfully validated in laboratory settings. The research team is seeking industrial partners for co-development and product formulation, as well as preparing for scale-up to kilogram-scale batch production for further validation and sampling.