Emulsion pressure-sensitive adhesive polymers in bandage and medical tape constructions

A combination for use as a medical tape or bandage construction, said combination comprising:

• (a) a sterilizable backing;
• (b) a sterilizable inherently tacky, pressure-sensitive adhesive polymer applied to one side of said backing, said adhesive formed by emulsion polymerization and comprising on a polymerized basis and based on the total weight of the monomers:
• (i) at least one alkyl acrylate containing from about 4 to about 8 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, the total amount of alkyl acrylate present being from about 35 to about 60 percent by weight;
• (ii) at least one vinyl ester containing from 2 to about 16 carbon atoms in the alkyl group of the acid, the total amount of the vinyl ester present being from 15 to about 35 percent by weight;
• (iii) at least one diester of a dicarboxylic acid in which each alkyl group of the diester independently contains from about 6 to about 12 carbon atoms, the total of the diesters present being in amount from about 20 to about 40 percent by weight;
• and
• (iv) at least one unsaturated carboxylic acid containing from about 3 to about 5 carbon atoms, present in the total of the unsaturated carboxylic acid in an amount up to about 5 percent by weight, said polymer being formed in the presence of a reactive surfactant which is a vinyl functional monomer, and having a gel content of from about 50 to 70 percent by weight of the polymer prior to sterilization.