Pressure sensitive adhesives based on carboxylic acids and epoxides

A method for making a pressure sensitive adhesive comprising:

• (a) reacting (i) at least one dibasic acid or anhydride thereof with (ii) at least one epoxide having at least two epoxy groups, at least one diol or polyol, or at least one diamine at a stoichiometric molar excess of reactive carboxylic acid groups relative to reactive epoxy groups, hydroxyl groups or amine groups to produce a thermoplastic prepolymer or oligomer capped with a carboxylic acid group at both prepolymer or oligomer chain ends, or a thermoplastic branched prepolymer or oligomer with at least two of the prepolymer or oligomer branches and chain ends capped with a carboxylic acid group;
• and
• (b) curing the resulting carboxylic acid-capped prepolymer or oligomer with at least one polyfunctional epoxide to produce a pressure sensitive adhesive, wherein the polyfunctional epoxide is not an epoxidized vegetable oil.

A method for making a pressure sensitive adhesive comprising:

• (a) reacting at least one dibasic acid or anhydride thereof with at least one epoxide having at least two epoxy or oxirane groups at a stoichiometric molar excess of reactive epoxy or oxirane groups relative to reactive carboxylic acid groups to produce a thermoplastic prepolymer or oligomer capped with an epoxy or an oxirane group at both prepolymer or oligomer chain ends, or a thermoplastic branched prepolymer or oligomer with at least two of the prepolymer or oligomer branches and chain ends capped with an epoxy or oxirane group;
• and
• (b) (i) curing the resulting epoxy-capped prepolymer or oligomer with at least one polybasic acid, or (ii) thermally curing the resulting epoxy-capped prepolymer or oligomer, to produce a pressure sensitive adhesive.

8-12. (canceled)

33-38. (canceled)

(canceled)

47-48. (canceled)