Method for the manufacture of pressure sensitive adhesives

Abstract

A method for the manufacture of an adhesive id described, comprising: (A) Providing an initial reaction product of a solution polymerization reaction, the initial reaction product comprising polymer, unreacted polymerizable reactant, non-polymerizable material, and solvent; and (B) Purifying the initial reaction product by adding an oxidizing agent and a reducing agent to the initial reaction product and allowing the unreacted polymerizable reactant in the initial reaction product to further react, thereby providing a second reaction product comprising additional polymer and a lower level of unreacted polymerizable reactant than was present in the initial reaction product. Optionally, the method of the invention may further comprise: Precipitating the polymer from the second reaction product to provide a precipitated polymer, and separating the precipitated polymer from the remainder of the second reaction product, the precipitated polymer comprising a lower level of non-polymerizable material or unreacted polymerizable reactant or both non-polymerizable material and unreacted polymerizable reactant than was present in the second reaction product.