UV curable pressure‐sensitive adhesives for fabricating semiconductors. II. The effect of functionality of acrylate monomers on the adhesive properties

Abstract In an attempt to control the adhesive properties of acrylic copolymer‐based pressure‐sensitive adhesives, a series of multifunctional acrylate monomers were added and UV cured. The adhesive compound with a difunctional monomer had increased peel strength after UV curing. On the other hand, the compound with a tri‐ or more functional (polyfunctional) monomer had markedly decreased strength after UV curing. Those adhesives containing any polyfunctional monomer also showed much higher storage modulus than an adhesive containing a difunctional monomer. The greater volume contraction of UV‐cured polyfunctional monomer suggested microvoids at the interface between the adhesive layer and the adherent, resulting in poor strength. Estimated values of the peel strength of UV‐cured adhesives according to the theoretical equations proved that the strength is approximately inversely proportional to the elastic moduli. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 2889–2895, 2004