Tackifiers are chemical additives designed to enhance the bonding strength of materials by wetting the bonding surfaces through surface or internal diffusion. Based on their solubility characteristics, they are classified into water-based and oil-based types (the latter including both inorganic salt electrolytes and organic compounds). Common varieties include rosin derivatives, petroleum resins, and terpene resins; these typically possess a molecular weight ranging from 500 to 2,000 and predominantly exist in an amorphous, glassy state. In asphalt modification, tackifiers serve to improve adhesion and modulate the elastic modulus, exhibiting excellent compatibility with polymers such as SBS. In rubber systems, they must be utilized in conjunction with resorcinol donors to establish a resorcinol-formaldehyde-latex (RFL) bonding system.
The product portfolio encompasses various categories, including hydrocarbon resins and rosin esters, finding application in the fields of hot-melt adhesives, pressure-sensitive adhesives, and rubber manufacturing. Biological tackifiers designed for drilling fluids feature high-temperature resistance up to 180°C; the addition of just 0.2% of such an additive can elevate the apparent viscosity to 35 mPa·s. Silicone-based tackifiers, when added at a concentration of 1.0–2.0%, enhance the adhesion of silicone rubber to substrates such as metals, requiring a curing temperature exceeding 130°C.
