What are tackifiers?
Tackifiers are chemical compounds used in formulating adhesives to increase the tack, the stickiness of the surface of the adhesive. They are usually low-molecular weight compounds with high glass transition temperature.
Uses of tackifiers
Many pressure-sensitive adhesives are a blend of rubbers (natural or synthetic) and a tackifying resin. Some acrylic adhesives also include an additional tackifier. Silicone rubber–based pressure-sensitive adhesives require special tackifiers based on "MQ" silicate resins, composed of a monofunctional trimethyl silane ("M") reacted with quadrafunctional silicon tetrachloride ("Q"). Tackifiers are also used in tyres.
