Pregummed remoistenable tape having long open time and short tack time

Abstract

A pregummed, remoistenable tape having long open time and short tack time which utilizes adhesive formulations using acid hydrolyzed, derivatized waxy maize starch as a component to replace animal glue in remoistenable pregummed tape formulations. Wet tack strength is equal or better than "all-animal glue" adhesives presently used, especially for short open times. In one embodiment, the major ingredient in the adhesive coating of the pregummed tape comprises waxy maize starch which is first acid-hydrolyzed and then copolymerized with acrylamide monomer using a free radical initiator in an aqueous system. In another second embodiment, acid-hydrolyzed, cyanoethylated waxy maize starch provides the major adhesive ingredient which replaces a substantial portion of the animal glue in the adhesive composition used to coat the pregummed tape. It is also contemplated that substantially all of the animal glue in the new formulation can be replaced for certain applications with a synthetic organic compound such as polyvinyl alcohol. These combination vegetable-animal base adhesives and the vegetable synthetic type adhesives may be used to replace animal glue based adhesives, and provide improved machinability, less odor, easier remoistenability of the pregummed tape under cold room conditions and improved aging. Of the many modified starch combinations tested, on remoistenable pregummed tapes the acid-hydrolyzed, cyanoethylated starch derivative and acid-hydrolyzed, acrylamide-starch graft copolymers performed the best, especially in combination with small amounts of animal glue.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.