HK40019886B - Hot melt adhesive composition - Google Patents

Description

Hot melt adhesive composition

Background

The present invention relates to formulating hot melt adhesive compositions that exhibit strong bonding, fast cure times, and good low temperature bonding characteristics.

Hot melt adhesive compositions are commonly used to bond two substrates together and are applied to the substrates in the molten state. In order to be commercially viable, most hot melt adhesive compositions must maintain adhesion to the substrate at room temperature, and in order to be suitable for high speed packaging operations, the adhesive must also exhibit fast set times and fiber tear bonds. For many applications, it is also desirable that the adhesive exhibit fiber tear bonding at low temperatures.

Many different types of polymers are used in a variety of different hot melt adhesive compositions. However, it is often difficult to combine different types of polymers in the same composition because the polymers tend to be incompatible with each other, separate upon heating, separate upon aging, or exhibit a combination of these characteristics. For example, ethylene vinyl acetate tends to be incompatible with styrene block copolymers.

Synthetic waxes also tend to present hot melt adhesive formulation problems. Synthetic waxes tend to be incompatible with styrene block copolymers and ethylene vinyl acetate.

There is a need for a hot melt adhesive composition that exhibits fast cure times, exhibits good fiber tear adhesion properties at low temperatures, and maintains homogeneity.

Disclosure of Invention

In one aspect, the invention features a hot melt adhesive composition that includes a first copolymer including a copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of no greater than 0.90 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm)³) A density ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer; a second copolymer comprising a styrenic block copolymer; a tackifier; a synthetic wax having a melting point of at least 70 ℃ and a heat of fusion of at least 200 joules/gram (J/g); and at least 5 wt% of a third polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene-polar comonomer copolymers derived from at least 90 mole% ethylene and no greater than 10 mole% polar comonomer, and propylene-alpha-olefin copolymers derived from at least 8 mole% comonomer having a heat of fusion of at least 5J/g to no greater than 60J/g and a polydispersity index of no greater than 10, and propylene homopolymers exhibiting a heat of fusion of at least 5J/g to no greater than 60J/g. In one embodiment, the synthetic wax is a wax derived from ethylene, a fischer-tropsch wax, or a combination thereof. In other embodiments of the present invention, the substrate may be,the composition exhibits a cure time of no more than 1 second. In some embodiments, the composition exhibits a cure time of no more than 0.8 seconds.

In one embodiment, the third polymer is an ethylene-polar comonomer copolymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene-vinyl acetate, ethylene-alkyl acrylate, and combinations thereof. In another embodiment, the third polymer is an ethylene-polar comonomer copolymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene-vinyl acetate, ethylene-methyl acrylate, ethylene-n-butyl acrylate, and combinations thereof. In other embodiments, the third polymer comprises ethylene vinyl acetate derived from no more than 8 mole% vinyl acetate.

In some embodiments, the composition exhibits a viscosity of no greater than 1500cP at 177 ℃. In other embodiments, the composition exhibits a viscosity of no greater than 1500cP at a temperature of no greater than 135 ℃. In another embodiment, the composition exhibits a viscosity of no greater than 1500cP at 121 ℃.

In another embodiment, a hot melt adhesive composition comprises 5 to 25 wt% of an ethylene-a-olefin copolymer, 2 to 15 wt% of a styrenic block copolymer, 15 to 50 wt% of a tackifier, 10 to 35 wt% of a synthetic wax, and 5 to 25 wt% of a third polymer. In one embodiment, the styrenic block copolymer comprises at least one of: styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene, and styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene and styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene. In another embodiment, the styrene block copolymer comprises styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene. In other embodiments, the styrenic block copolymer is derived from less than 35 wt.% styrene.

In some embodiments, the third polymer comprises an ethylene-polar comonomer copolymer, and the ethylene-polar comonomer copolymer comprises ethylene vinyl acetate derived from less than 20 weight percent vinyl acetate. In other embodiments, the third polymer comprises an ethylene-polar comonomer copolymer, and the ethylene-polar comonomer copolymer comprises ethylene-n-butyl acrylate derived from less than 30 weight percent n-butyl acrylate. In one embodiment, the styrenic block copolymer is derived from less than 35 wt.% styrene, and the third polymer comprises at least one of ethylene vinyl acetate derived from less than 20 wt.% vinyl acetate and ethylene n-butyl acrylate derived from less than 30 wt.% n-butyl acrylate.

In one embodiment, the composition exhibits a peel adhesion failure temperature of at least 50 ℃. In another embodiment, the composition exhibits at least 80% fiber tear at-29 ℃. In other embodiments, the composition exhibits at least 50% fiber tear at-29 ℃. In some embodiments, the composition is homogeneous when tested according to the clarity and homogeneity test method.

The invention features a hot melt adhesive composition that exhibits a fast cure time, exhibits good fiber tear adhesion properties at low temperatures, and is homogeneous at high temperatures.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, and from the claims.

Glossary

In connection with the present invention, the following terms have the following meanings:

the phrase "application temperature" refers to the temperature at which the hot melt adhesive composition is applied to a substrate.

Detailed Description

The hot melt adhesive composition comprises a first ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer, a second styrene block copolymer, a tackifier, a synthetic wax, and a third polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene-polar comonomer copolymers, propylene homopolymers, and combinations thereof. The sum of the ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer, the styrenic block copolymer, and the third polymer preferably comprises at least 20 wt%, at least 25 wt%, at least 30 wt%, from about 20 wt% to about 50 wt%, from about 25 wt% to about 45 wt%, or even from about 30 wt% to about 40 wt% of the hot melt adhesive composition.

The hot melt adhesive composition preferably exhibits a viscosity of no greater than 2000 centipoise (cP), or even no greater than 1500cP at 177 ℃, 150 ℃, 135 ℃, or even 121 ℃.

The hot melt adhesive composition preferably exhibits a cure time of no greater than 1.5 seconds (sec), no greater than 1.0 seconds, or even no greater than 0.8 seconds at an application temperature of, for example, 177 ℃, 150 ℃, 135 ℃, or even 121 ℃, and exhibits at least 50%, at least 70%, at least 80%, or even at least 100% fiber tear at 22 ℃,4 ℃, -18 ℃, or even-29 ℃.

The hot melt adhesive composition also preferably has a Peel Adhesion Failure Temperature (PAFT) of at least 45 ℃, at least 50 ℃, or even at least 55 ℃.

The hot melt adhesive composition is also preferably clear and homogeneous after 16 hours or even after 48 hours when tested according to the clarity and homogeneity test method.

Ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer

The ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer has no greater than 0.90 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm)³) Or even not more than 0.88g/cm³The density of (c). The ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer exhibits a melt index at 190 ℃ of from about 1g/10 minutes (min) to about 2500g/10min, or even from about 400g/10min to about 1200g/10min, using a 2.16 kilogram (kg) weight, as measured according to ASTM D1238.

The ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer is derived from at least 60 mole percent, at least 65 mole percent, or even at least 70 mole percent ethylene, and alpha-olefin monomer. The alpha-olefin monomer has at least three carbon atoms, or even 3 to 20 carbon atoms, suitable examples of which include propylene, isobutylene, butene, pentene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, dodecene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 3-methylpentene-1, 3,5, 5-trimethyl-hexene-1, 5-ethyl-1-nonene, and combinations thereof. Specific examples of suitable ethylene copolymers include ethylene-propylene, ethylene-butene, ethylene-hexene, ethylene-octene, and combinations thereof. The ethylene-a-olefin copolymer optionally comprises functional groups including, for example, carboxylic acid groups, anhydride groups (e.g., maleic anhydride), and combinations thereof.

Ethylene-a-olefin copolymers can be prepared using a variety of catalysts, including, for example, one single-site catalyst (e.g., a metallocene-catalyzed ethylene-a-olefin copolymer), a constrained geometry catalyst (e.g., a homogeneous linear or substantially linear ethylene-a-olefin interpolymer prepared from ethylene and an a-olefin comonomer and having a polydispersity index of not greater than 2.5 and long chain branching using a constrained geometry catalyst), a variety of single-site catalysts, and combinations thereof.

Useful ethylene-a-olefin copolymers include ethylene-a-olefin copolymers polymerized in a reactor to their final molecular weight, ethylene-a-olefin copolymers subjected to chain scission to achieve their final molecular weight, and mixtures thereof.

Useful ethylene- α -olefin copolymers are commercially available under a variety of trade names, including, for example, the AFFINITY series of trade names available from dow dupont Chemical Company (Midland, Michigan), Midland, Michigan, including, for example, AFFINITY GA 1875, AFFINITY GA 1900, and AFFINITY GA 1950 ethylene-octene elastomers, AFFINITY GA 1000R maleic anhydride-modified ethylene-octene copolymers (which are also known by the manufacturer as interpolymers), and AFFINITY ethylene-propylene copolymers; the ENGAGE series trade names available from dow dupont Chemical Company (Midland, Michigan), Midland, Michigan, including ENGAGE 8400, ENGAGE 8401, and ENGAGE 8402 ethylene-octene copolymers; QuEO series tradenames available from northern Europe chemical (Borealis); the INFUSE series of trade names available from Dow DuPont Chemical Company (Midland, Michigan) of Midland, Mich., U.S.A., including INFUSE 9500 ethylene-propylene copolymer; the SABIC POE series trade names available from sauter Basic Industries Corp (Pittsfield, Massachusetts) of petzfield, Massachusetts, include SABIC POE C30070D; trade names of the LUCENE series from LG; trade names of the TAFMER series from Mitsui (MITSUI); and EXACT series trade names from ExxonMobil Chemical Company (Houston, Tex.) of Houston, U.S., including, for example, EXACT 9061 ethylene-butene copolymer.

The hot melt adhesive composition comprises at least 5 wt%, at least 10 wt%, 5 wt% to about 25 wt%, 5 wt% to about 20 wt%, or even about 10 wt% to about 20 wt% of the ethylene-a-olefin copolymer.

Synthetic wax

The synthetic wax has a melt temperature (Tm) of at least 70 ℃, at least 80 ℃, at least 90 ℃, at least 100 ℃, 70 ℃ to about 130 ℃, 70 ℃ to about 120 ℃, 70 ℃ to about 110 ℃, or even 80 ℃ to about 105 ℃, and a heat of fusion of at least 200 joules/gram (J/g), at least 210J/g, or even at least 220J/g. The synthetic wax is derived from ethylene (e.g., at least about 95 mole percent ethylene) and optionally additional comonomers including, for example, propylene. Suitable synthetic waxes include, for example, polyethylene waxes, fischer-tropsch waxes, metallocene-catalyzed polyethylene waxes, and combinations thereof.

Useful polyethylene waxes are commercially available under a variety of trade names, including, for example, the EPOLENE series trade names from Westlake Chemical Corporation (Houston, Tex.) of Houston Chemical Corporation, Texas, USA, including, for example, EPOLENE N-21 and N-14 polyethylene waxes; trade names of the balco series from beckhos Inc (Baker Hughes Inc, Texas), suglan, usa, include, for example, balco C4040 polyethylene wax; the AC series trade names available from Honeywell Int' l Inc. (Morristown, N.J.) of Morisdon, N.J., USA include, for example, A-C8 and A-C9 polyethylene waxes; POLYWAX series tradenames available from Baker Hughes (Houston, Tex.) of Schagland, USA, include POLYWAX 3000, 500, 1500 and 2000 polyethylene waxes; and CWP 400 polyethylene wax obtained from SSI CHUSEI corporation (SSI CHUSEI, Inc. (Pasedena, Texas)) of pasadena, Texas, usa.

Useful fischer-tropsch waxes are commercially available under a variety of trade names, including for example the BARECO series of trade names from Baker Hughes Inc (Sugar Land, Texas), of schland, Texas, usa, including for example BARECO PX-100 and PX-105 fischer waxes; SHELLWAX and SARAWAX-SX-105 series trade names available from Shell Malaysia Ltd (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) of Shell Malaysia Geron, Malaysia, include, for example, SHELLWAX SX100, SX105, SX-70, and SX-80, and SARAWAX SX100 and SX105 Fischer-Tropsch waxes; the VESTOWAX series trade names available from Evonik Industries AG (Germany) in Germany include, for example, VESTOWAX 2050 Fischer-Tropsch wax; and the Sasol Wax series of trade names available from salol Wax North America Corporation (Hayward, California) of haworth, California, including, for example, Sasol Wax H105, C80, H1, and H4 fischer-tropsch waxes.

Useful metallocene-catalyzed polyethylene waxes are commercially available under a variety of trade names, including for example LICOWAX from Clariant Int' l Ltd (Muttenz, Switzerland), Murray, and TRECARA CWP-400 from Trecora Chemical, Pasadena, Tex.

The hot melt adhesive composition comprises at least 10 wt%, at least 15 wt%, at least 20 wt%, at least 25 wt%, not greater than about 35 wt%, from about 10 wt% to about 35 wt%, from about 20 wt% to about 35 wt%, or even from about 25 wt% to about 35 wt% synthetic wax.

Styrene block copolymer

The styrenic block copolymer has at least one a block comprising styrene; and at least one B block comprising, for example, an elastomeric conjugated diene (e.g., hydrogenated and unhydrogenated conjugated dienes), a sesquiterpene (e.g., hydrogenated and unhydrogenated sesquiterpenes), and combinations thereof. The A and B blocks are bonded to each other in any combination such that the resulting copolymer exhibits a variety of structures including, for example, random, linear, branched, radial, star, comb, tapered, and combinations thereofAnd (4) combining. The block copolymer may take any form, including, for example, linear A-B blocks, linear A-B-A blocks, linear A- (B-A)_n-B multiblock and radial (A-B)_n-Y blocks (wherein Y is a polyvalent compound and n is an integer of at least 3), tetrablock copolymers such as A-B-A-B, and pentablock copolymers having the structure A-B-A-B-A. The adhesive composition may comprise a blend of at least two different block copolymers.

Suitable styrene a blocks include, for example, styrene, alpha-methylstyrene, o-methylstyrene, m-methylstyrene, p-tert-butylstyrene, 2, 4-dimethylstyrene, 2,4, 6-trimethylstyrene, and combinations thereof.

Suitable block elastomeric conjugated diene B blocks include, for example, butadiene (e.g., polybutadiene), isoprene (polyisoprene), 2, 3-dimethyl-1, 3-butadiene, 1, 3-pentadiene, 1, 3-hexadiene, and combinations thereof and hydrogenated versions thereof, including, for example, ethylene, propylene, butylene, and combinations thereof.

Suitable B block sesquiterpenes include, for example, beta farnesene.

Useful styrene block copolymers include, for example, styrene-butadiene (SB), styrene-butadiene-Styrene (SBs), styrene-isoprene block (SI), styrene-isoprene-Styrene (SIs), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS), styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene (SEPS), styrene-isobutylene-styrene, and combinations thereof. Particularly useful block copolymers include styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene, and combinations thereof.

The styrenic block copolymer comprises from about 5 wt% to about 40 wt%, from about 10 wt% to about 30 wt%, or even from about 15 wt% to about 25 wt% styrene, and from about 95 wt% to about 60 wt%, from about 90 wt% to about 70 wt%, or even from about 85 wt% to about 75 wt% B block. Suitable block copolymers have a melt flow index of from about 3g/10min to about 50g/10min, or even from about 5g/10min to about 20g/10min, as measured according to ASTM-D1238-95.

Useful block copolymers are commercially available from KRATON Corporation of Houston, Texas, usa under the KRATON D and G series trade names, including, for example, KRATON D1163 SIS and D1117 SIS, and KRATON G1652 SEBS, G1657 SEBS, G1726 SEBS, and G1901 SEBS; enderchem (Houston, Texas) available from Houston, Texas, usa under the trade name EUROPRENE Sol T; SEPTON Company of America, available under the SEPTON trade name of Pasadena (Pasadena, Texas), tx, including SEPTON S1001 SEPS block copolymers, and SEPTON 4030, 4033, 4044, 4055, and 4077 block copolymers, usa; and Taiwan Synthetic Rubber Corporation (TSRC), Taipei City, Taiwan) available under the trade name of VECTOR series, Taiwan taibei china, including VECTOR 4211 and DPX-660 styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer; HSFC KL-SF 901 and KL-SF 902 hydrogenated styrene-farnesene block copolymers, available from Kuraray America Inc. of Houston, Tex, USA; and HYBRAR H7125 and H7311 hydrogenated SIS block copolymers, available from clony corporation (Kuraray).

The adhesive composition comprises at least 1 wt%, at least 2 wt%, from about 2 wt% to about 15 wt%, from about 2 wt% to about 10 wt%, and from about 3 wt% to about 8 wt% of a styrenic block copolymer.

Tackifier

The tackifier exhibits a glass transition temperature (Tg) of about 30 ℃ to about 90 ℃. Suitable tackifier classes include, for example, aromatic, aliphatic and cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon resins, mixed aromatic and aliphatic modified hydrocarbon resins, aromatic modified aliphatic hydrocarbon resins, and hydrogenated versions thereof; terpenes, modified terpenes, and hydrogenated versions thereof; natural rosins, modified rosins, rosin esters, and hydrogenated versions thereof; low molecular weight polylactic acid; and combinations thereof. Examples of natural and modified rosins that may be used include gum rosin, wood rosin, tall oil rosin, distilled rosin, hydrogenated rosin, dimerized rosin, and polymerized rosin. Examples of useful rosin esters include, for example, glycerol esters of pale wood rosin, glycerol esters of hydrogenated rosin, glycerol esters of polymerized rosin, pentaerythritol esters of natural and modified rosins, including pentaerythritol esters of pale wood rosin, pentaerythritol esters of hydrogenated rosin, pentaerythritol esters of tall oil rosin, and phenolic modified pentaerythritol esters of rosin, and combinations thereof. Examples of useful polyterpene resins include polyterpene resins having a softening point of about 80 ℃ to about 160 ℃, hydrogenated polyterpene resins, and co-and terpolymers of natural terpenes (e.g., styrene-terpene, alpha-methylstyrene-terpene, and vinyl toluene-terpene), and combinations thereof, as measured by ASTM method E28-58T. Examples of useful aliphatic and cycloaliphatic petroleum hydrocarbon resins include aliphatic and cycloaliphatic petroleum hydrocarbon resins having a ring and ball softening point of from about 80 ℃ to 160 ℃, hydrogenated derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. Suitable aliphatic and cycloaliphatic petroleum hydrocarbon resins include, for example, branched, unbranched, and cyclic C5 resins, C9 resins, and C10 resins.

Useful tackifiers are commercially available under a variety of trade names, including, for example, the ESCOREZ series of trade names from ExxonMobil Chemical Company (Houston, Texas), Houston, tx, including, for example, ESCOREZ 1310LC aliphatic hydrocarbon resin, ESCOREZ 5400 cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon resin, ESCOREZ 567 aromatic modified cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon resin, ESCOREZ 5415 cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon resin, ESCOREZ 5600 aromatic modified cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon resin, ESCOREZ 5615 aromatic modified cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon resin, and ESCOREZ 5690 aromatic modified cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon resin; EASTOTAC series trade names available from Eastman Chemical Company (Kingsport, Tennessee) of Kingsport, Tennessee, U.S., including, for example, EASTOTAC H-100R, EASTOTAC H-100L, and EASTOTAC H130W hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins; the WINGTACK series of tradenames available from Cray Valley carbon Hydrocarbon specialty Chemicals, Inston, Pa., Cray Valley HSC (Exton, Pennsylvania) include, for example, WINGTACK 86 aromatic modified C-5 hydrocarbon resins, WINGTACK EXTRA aromatic modified C-5 hydrocarbon resins, and WINGTACK 95 aliphatic C-5 petroleum hydrocarbon resins; PICCOTAC series trade names available from Eastman Chemical Company (Kingsport, Tennessee) of kingsbot, Tennessee, usa, including, for example, PICCOTAC 8095 aromatic modified C-5 hydrocarbon resins and 1115 hydrocarbon resins; ARKON series trade names from Arkawa Europe GmbH (Germany) of wasteland, including, for example, ARKON P-125 cycloaliphatic saturated hydrocarbon resins; REGALITE and REGALREZ series trade names from Eastman Chemical Company (Eastman Chemical Company) including, for example, REGALITE R1125 fully hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins and REGALREZ 1126 hydrocarbon resins; and the Resinall series of tradenames from Resinall Corp (Severn, North Carolina), of sweden, North Carolina, usa, including Resinall 030 hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins.

The hot melt adhesive composition comprises from 15 wt% to not greater than about 50 wt%, from about 20 wt% to about 45 wt%, or even from about 25 wt% to about 40 wt% of a tackifier.

Third Polymer

The third polymer is an ethylene-polar comonomer copolymer, a propylene homopolymer, or a combination thereof. The hot melt adhesive composition comprises from 5 wt% to about 30 wt%, from 5 wt% to about 25 wt%, from 5 wt% to about 20 wt%, from about 10 wt% to about 20 wt%, from 5 wt% to about 15 wt%, or even from about 10 wt% to about 15 wt% of the third polymer.

Ethylene-polar comonomer copolymers

As used herein, the term "ethylene-polar comonomer copolymer" refers to copolymers, terpolymers, and higher polymers of ethylene and polar comonomers. The ethylene-polar comonomer copolymer is derived from at least 90 mole% ethylene and no more than 10 mole% polar comonomer. Useful polar comonomers include vinyl acetate and alkyl acrylates (e.g., C1-C4 alkyl acrylates). Suitable ethylene-polar comonomer copolymers include, for example, ethylene-vinyl acetate, ethylene-methyl acrylate, ethylene-ethyl acrylate, ethylene-n-butyl acrylate, ethylene-acrylic acid, ethylene-methyl methacrylate, ethylene-2-ethylhexyl acrylate, and combinations thereof.

Useful ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers exhibit melt indices of less than about 2600g/10min, less than about 1100g/10min, at least 100g/10min, or even at least 150g/10 min. Suitable ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers contain no greater than 10 mole percent (mol%), or even no greater than 8 mol%, vinyl acetate. Suitable ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers contain no greater than 22 wt%, or even no greater than 20 wt% vinyl acetate. Suitable ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers are commercially available under the ATEVA series trade name, including ATEVA 1850A and 1880A from AT Plastics, Inc. of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; and ESCORENE series trade names including, for example, ESCORENE MV 2514 from ExxonMobil Chemical Company, Houston, Texas, Houston, usa; and ALCUDIA PA-407, PA-410 PA-411, and PA-420 from Repesol (Madrid, Spain) in Maderry, Spain.

Useful ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymers exhibit a melt index of less than about 2500g/10min, or even less than about 900g/10min, and contain no more than 10 mole%, or even no more than 8 mole%, of alkyl acrylate. Suitable ethylene-n-butyl acrylate copolymers contain no more than 33 wt.%, or even no more than 30 wt.% butyl acrylate. Useful ethylene-n-butyl acrylate copolymers are commercially available under the ALCUDIA tradename from REPSOL (Madrid, Spain) in Maderry, Spain, including PA-27100 and PA-27150; and commercially available under the ENABLE trade name from Exxon Chemical (Houston, Tex.) of Houston, Tex. Suitable ethylene methyl acrylate copolymers are commercially available from Exxon Chemical (Houston, Tex.) under the name OPTEMA. Useful ethylene-methyl methacrylate copolymers are commercially available from Sumitomo Chemical Company (Tokyo, Japan) under the trade name ACRYFT.

The hot melt adhesive composition preferably comprises from 0 wt% to about 30 wt%, from 5 wt% to about 25 wt%, from 5 wt% to about 20 wt%, or even from 5 wt% to about 15 wt% of the ethylene-polar comonomer copolymer.

Propylene-alpha-olefin copolymer

The propylene-alpha-olefin copolymer is derived from at least 8 mole percent of a comonomer, has a heat of fusion from 5J/g to 60J/g, from about 5J/g to about 55J/g, from about 5J/g to about 50J/g, from about 5J/g to about 45J/g, or even from about 5J/g to about 40J/g, and a polydispersity index of not greater than 10, not greater than 8, or even not greater than 6. The propylene-alpha-olefin copolymer preferably has not more than 0.90g/cm³And exhibits a glass transition temperature (Tg) of no greater than about-10 ℃, no greater than about-15 ℃, or even no greater than about-25 ℃, a viscosity of less than 100,000cP, less than 50,000cP, or even less than 20,000cP at 190 ℃.

The propylene-alpha-olefin copolymer is derived from propylene and at least one alpha-olefin comonomer other than propylene (e.g., C2 and C4-C20 alpha-olefin comonomers and combinations thereof). Useful alpha-olefin comonomers include, for example, alpha-olefin monomers having at least two carbon atoms, at least four carbon atoms, from four carbon atoms to eight carbon atoms, and combinations thereof. Examples of suitable classes of alpha-olefin comonomers include mono alpha-olefins (i.e., one unsaturated double bond) and higher alpha-olefins (e.g., dienes (e.g., 1, 9-decadiene)). Suitable alpha-olefin monomers include, for example, ethylene, butene, pentene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, dodecene, 4-methyl-pentene-1, 3,5, 5-trimethyl-hexene-1, 5-ethyl-1-nonene, and combinations thereof. Specific examples of suitable propylene- α -olefin copolymers include propylene-ethylene, propylene-butene, propylene-hexene, propylene-octene, and combinations thereof.

The propylene-a-olefin copolymer is preferably derived from at least 8 mole%, at least about 10 mole%, not more than about 50 mole%, not more than about 40 mole%, not more than 37.5 mole%, not more than about 30 mole%, not more than about 25 mole%, not more than about 20 mole%, not more than about 17 mole%, not more than about 15 mole%, or even not more than about 10 mole% of an a-olefin comonomer, and at least 50 mole%, at least about 60 mole%, at least 62.5 mole%, at least 75 mole%, at least 83 mole%, at least 85 mole%, not more than 92 mole%, not more than 90 mole%, from about 50 mole% to about 92 mole%, from about 60 mole% to about 90 mole%, or even from about 70 mole% to about 90 mole% of propylene.

Useful propylene- α -olefin copolymers include, for example, copolymers, terpolymers, and higher polymers, blends, and combinations thereof of at least two different propylene- α -olefin copolymers. Useful propylene- α -olefin copolymers also include, for example, modified, unmodified, grafted, and ungrafted propylene- α -olefin copolymers, unimodal propylene- α -olefin polymers, multimodal propylene- α -olefin copolymers, and combinations thereof. The term "multimodal" means that the polymer has a multimodal molecular weight distribution (weight average molecular weight (Mw)/number average molecular weight (Mn)) as determined by Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC). When the SEC trace has more than one peak or inflection point (i.e., two or more inflection points), there is a multimodal molecular weight distribution. An inflection point is a point where the second derivative changes in sign (e.g., from negative to positive or vice versa). The term "unimodal" means that the polymer has a unimodal molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) as measured by SEC. When the SEC trace has only one peak, there is a monomodal molecular weight distribution. Useful multimodal propylene-alpha-olefin polymers and methods for making the same are described in WO 2016/089851, which is incorporated herein.

The propylene-alpha-olefin copolymer may be prepared using a variety of methods, including, for example, in one or several reactors, and may be in the form of a blend of several fractions prepared separately and subsequently mixed.

Propylene- α -olefin copolymers can be prepared using a variety of catalysts including, for example, one single-site catalyst (e.g., a metallocene catalyzed propylene polymer)), multiple single-site catalysts, non-metallocene heteroaryl catalysts, catalysts described in US 6,365,539, US 6,677,410, and WO 2000/050475, ziegler-natta catalysts, and combinations thereof. Other suitable copolymers include polymers prepared by grafting amorphous propylene polymers onto semi-crystalline polymers, examples of which and methods of making are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,541,402 (abhara et al) and incorporated herein. The propylene-alpha-olefin copolymer may include isotactic polypropylene blocks and random polypropylene blocks.

Suitable commercially available propylene- α -olefin copolymers are available under a number of trade names, including, for example, the VISTAMAXX series of trade names from ExxonMobil Chemical Company, Houston, Texas, Houston, tx, including VISTAMAXX 8880 propylene-ethylene copolymer, VISTAMAXX 8780 propylene-ethylene copolymer, and VISTAMAXX 8380 propylene-ethylene copolymer; and the AERAFIN series of trade names available from Eastman Chemical Company (Kingsport, Tennessee) of Kingsport, Tennessee, U.S.A., including AERAFIN 17 and AERAFIN 180 propylene-ethylene copolymers.

The hot melt adhesive composition comprises from 0 wt% to about 30 wt%, from 5 wt% to about 25 wt%, from 5 wt% to about 20 wt%, or even from 5 wt% to about 15 wt% of the propylene-a-olefin copolymer.

Propylene homopolymer

The propylene homopolymer exhibits a heat of fusion of from 5J/g to 60J/g, from about 5J/g to about 50J/g, from about 5J/g to about 40J/g, or even from about 5J/g to about 30J/g. The propylene homopolymer preferably has not more than 0.90g/cm³And exhibits a glass transition temperature (Tg) of no greater than about-0 ℃, or even no greater than about-5 ℃, and a viscosity of less than 100,000cP, less than 50,000cP, less than 20,000cP, or even less than 10,000cP at 190 ℃.

Suitable propylene homopolymers are commercially available under a variety of trade names including, for example, L-MODU S400 and S410 propylene homopolymers available from Japan, photofabrication limited (Idemitsu Kosan co., Ltd. (Japan)).

The hot melt adhesive composition optionally comprises from 0 wt% to about 30 wt%, from 5 wt% to about 25 wt%, from 5 wt% to about 20 wt%, or even from 5 wt% to about 15 wt% of the propylene homopolymer.

Additive agent

The hot melt adhesive composition optionally includes various additional components including, for example, antioxidants, stabilizers, additional polymers, additional waxes, adhesion promoters, ultraviolet light stabilizers, rheology modifiers, corrosion inhibitors, colorants (e.g., pigments and dyes), fillers, flame retardants, nucleating agents, and combinations thereof.

Useful antioxidants include, for example, pentaerythritol tetrakis [3, (3, 5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate ], 2' -methylenebis (4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), phosphites including, for example, tris- (p-nonylphenyl) -phosphite (TNPP) and bis (2, 4-di-tert-butylphenyl) 4,4' -diphenylene-diphosphonate, distearyl-3, 3' -thiodipropionate (DSTDP), and combinations thereof. Useful antioxidants are commercially available under a variety of trade names, including, for example, the IRGANOX series of trade names, including, for example, IRGANOX 1010, IRGANOX 565, and IRGANOX 1076 hindered phenol antioxidants, IRGAFOS 168 phosphite antioxidants (all of which are available from BASF Corporation, Florham Park, N.J.), and ETHYL 7024, 4' -methylenebis (2, 6-di-tert-butylphenol), available from the Jacob Corporation of Bardrukuri, Louisiana, U.S.A.. When present, the adhesive composition preferably comprises from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of an antioxidant.

The hot melt adhesive composition optionally comprises a wax other than the synthetic waxes described herein. Examples of such alternative waxes include paraffin waxes, microcrystalline waxes, polypropylene waxes, functionalized waxes, and combinations thereof. One example of a polyethylene wax exhibiting a heat of fusion of less than 200J/g is LICOCENE PE520 available from Clariant. Other examples of alternative waxes include MICROSURE 195 microcrystalline wax available from Ruger Chemical Co., Ltd., (Irvington, Pennsylvania), of European Wenton, Pa; FR-6513 paraffin wax from Calumet Specialty Products Partners LP, Indianapolis, Indiana. Examples of suitable functionalized waxes include functionalized polyethylene waxes (e.g., maleated polyethylene waxes and oxidized polyethylene waxes) and combinations thereof.

Use of

The hot melt adhesive composition can be applied to or incorporated into a variety of articles including, for example, fibers, substrates made from fibers (e.g., virgin fibers, recycled fibers, synthetic polymer fibers (e.g., nylon, rayon, polyester, acrylic, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane), cellulosic fibers (e.g., natural cellulosic fibers such as wood pulp), natural fibers (e.g., cotton, silk, and wool), and glass fibers, and combinations thereof), release liners, porous substrates, cellulosic substrates, sheets (e.g., paper and fiber sheets), paper products, woven and nonwoven webs (e.g., webs made from fibers (e.g., yarns, filaments, microfibers, meltblown fibers, and spun fibers), perforated films, and combinations thereof), tape backings, and combinations thereof.

The hot melt adhesive composition can be used to bond a variety of substrates including, for example, paperboard, coated paperboard, fiberboard, virgin and recycled kraft, high and low density kraft, chipboard, treated and coated kraft and chipboard and corrugated versions thereof, clay-coated chipboard stock, composites, leather, fibers and substrates made from fibers (e.g., virgin fibers, recycled fibers, synthetic polymer fibers, cellulosic fibers, and combinations thereof), release liners, porous substrates (e.g., woven webs, nonwoven webs, and perforated films), cellulosic substrates, sheets (e.g., paper and fibrous sheets), paper products, tape backings, and combinations thereof.

The hot melt adhesive composition can be used to bond a first substrate to a second substrate in a variety of applications and configurations, including, for example, packaging, bags, boxes, cartons, cases, trays, multi-layer bags, articles including accessories (e.g., a straw attached to a beverage box), ream wrap, cigarettes (e.g., filter plug wrap), filters (e.g., pleated filters and filter holders), bookbinding, paper products including, for example, paper towels (e.g., multipurpose paper towels), toilet paper, facial tissue, wet wipes, tissue, hand towels (e.g., paper towels), and combinations thereof.

The hot melt adhesive composition can be applied to a substrate in any useful form including, for example, coatings (e.g., continuous and discontinuous coatings (e.g., random, pattern, and array)), beads, films (e.g., continuous and discontinuous films), and combinations thereof, using any suitable application method including, for example, slot coating, spray coating (e.g., spiral jet, random jet, and random fiberization (e.g., melt blowing)), foaming, extrusion (e.g., applying beads, fine line extrusion, single screw extrusion, and twin screw extrusion), wheel application, non-contact coating, gravure, spiral roller, roll coating, transfer coating, screen printing, flexographic printing, "on-demand" application methods, and combinations thereof.

In on-demand hot melt application systems (also referred to as "cylinder-less" systems), the hot melt composition is fed in a solid state (e.g., pellets) to a relatively small heated vessel (as opposed to conventional hot melt application systems having a tank), where the hot melt composition is melted and, typically shortly thereafter, the molten liquid is applied to the substrate. In on-demand systems, relatively large amounts of hot melt compositions typically do not remain molten for extended periods of time. In many existing on-demand systems, the volume of the molten hot melt composition is no greater than about 1 liter or even no greater than about 500 milliliters, and the hot melt composition is maintained in the molten state for a relatively short period of time, including, for example, less than 2 hours, less than 1 hour, or even less than 30 minutes. Suitable on-demand Hot Melt adhesive application systems include, for example, the Invisipac Cylinder-less Hot Melt Delivery System (Invisipac Tank-Free Hot Melt Delivery System) available from Graco Minnesota Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA and the Freecom Hot Melt Dispensing System (FreedHot Melt Dispensing System) available from Nordson Corporation, Westlake, Ohio, West Leek, USA. On-demand hot melt adhesive application systems are described in U.S. patent publications 2013-.

The invention will now be described by way of the following examples. All parts, ratios, percentages, and amounts described in the examples are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

Examples

Test program

The test procedures used in the examples include the following procedures. All ratios and percentages are by weight unless otherwise indicated. Unless otherwise indicated, the procedure is carried out at room temperature (i.e., ambient temperature from about 20 ℃ to about 25 ℃) and ambient humidity (i.e., 30% to 70%).

Viscosity test method

The viscosity was determined according to ASTM D-3236 entitled "Standard Test Method for applied viscosity of Hot Melt Adhesives and Coating Materials" (Standard Test Method for Apparent viscosity of Hot Melt Adhesives and Coating Materials) (10/31 1988) using a Brookfield viscometer, a Brookfield Thermosel heated sample cell and spindle 27. Results are reported in centipoise (cP).

Curing time testing method

Beads of adhesive composition having dimensions of 5.08cm x 0.24cm were applied to a first substrate of WESTROCK 44 pound ECT 100% recycled component linerboard using a MEC ASM-15N hot melt bonding simulator. The temperature at which the adhesive composition is applied to the substrate is referred to as the application temperature. Unless otherwise indicated, the application temperature was 177 ℃. Two seconds after applying the adhesive beads to the first substrate, the adhesive beads were contacted with a second substrate of WESTROCK 44 pound ECT 100% recycled component linerboard, and the second substrate was then pressed and held against the first substrate at a pressure of 0.21MPa for a period of time (referred to herein as the compression time). When the substrate is compressed, the bond simulator timer starts. After a pre-programmed compression time, the instrument separates the two substrates by pulling the second substrate in the Z-direction and holding the first substrate in a fixed position, and measures the force required to separate the substrates and the amount of fiber tear present on the adhesive composition. Samples were analyzed in triplicate at each compression time. Initially, the compression time was 0.5 seconds. If each of the three samples did not exhibit greater than 50% fiber tear, the compression time was increased by 0.1 seconds and the test method was then repeated until greater than 50% fiber tear was observed in all three samples. The cure time was recorded as the compression time at which the three samples achieved greater than 50% fiber tear immediately from separation. The cure time is reported in seconds (sec).

Fiber tear test method

The percent fiber tear is the percentage of fibers that cover the area of the adhesive after two substrates that have been previously bonded together by the adhesive are separated by a force. The percent fiber tear exhibited by the adhesive composition was determined as follows. Beads of adhesive composition having dimensions of 15.24cm (6 inches) by 0.24cm (3/32 inches) were applied to a first substrate of the insulation PAPER board 32 pound ECT 100% recycled component linerboard using a ROCKTENN bond simulator at the specified application temperature. Two seconds after applying the adhesive bead to the first substrate, the adhesive bead was contacted with a second substrate of interconnected PAPER 32 pounds ECT 100% recycled component linerboard, and the second substrate was pressed against the adhesive and the first substrate for 2 seconds at a pressure of 0.21MPa (30 pounds per square inch (psi)). The resulting structure was then conditioned at room temperature for at least 4 hours, followed by conditioning at the specified test temperature for at least 12 hours. The substrates of the structure are then separated from each other at the conditioning temperature (e.g., immediately after the sample is removed from the conditioning chamber) by separating the two substrates from each other by hand. The surface of the adhesive composition was observed and the percentage of the surface area of the adhesive composition covered by the fibers was determined and recorded. A minimum of five samples were prepared and tested for each hot melt adhesive composition. Results are reported in% fiber tear.

Melting point test method

The melting Point was determined at a heating rate of 2 ℃ per minute according to ASTM D-3461 entitled "Standard Test Method for Softening Point of Asphalt and Pitch (Method Cup and Ball Method)".

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) test method for melt temperature (Tm) and heat of fusion

7.25 mg. + -. 0.25mg of sample is placed in a pan dedicated to the machine used (e.g.TA Q2000 DSC V24.11 with standard aluminium pan and lid). The samples were then covered and closed with a designated cap. In addition, the pan and lid, which contained no material, were closed and used as a reference sample. The sample was then loaded into a differential calorimeter column and covered with a nitrogen blanket. The sample was then heated at a rate of 60 ℃ until the sample reached 190 ℃. Next, the sample was allowed to stand isothermally at 190 ℃ for 5 minutes. The sample was then cooled at a rate of 10 deg.C/minute until the sample reached a temperature of-80 deg.C. Next, the sample was again allowed to stand isothermally at-80 ℃ for 5 minutes. The sample was then heated at 10 ℃/minute until the sample reached 190 ℃. The resulting data is presented as a graphical exotherm decline comprising heat flow versus temperature. The Tm (melt temperature) was taken as the peak of the maximum magnitude during the second melting and is reported as 0 ℃. The heat of fusion (Hfus) was taken during the second melt and is reported in joules/g (J/g).

Clarity and homogeneity testing method

Clarity and homogeneity of the adhesive composition were tested as follows: the hot melt adhesive composition is preheated to form a liquid melt and about 15 grams of the adhesive composition is poured into a 25mm x 150mm borosilicate glass test tube (Fisherbrand), which is then placed in an oven to heat the composition to a temperature at which the viscosity of the adhesive composition is below the minimum temperature of 1500cPs (e.g., 177 ℃, 135 ℃, or 121 ℃) and the composition is observed with the naked eye after about 16 hours and after 48 hours.

Clarity of the product

The observation was achieved as follows: the tubes were removed individually from the oven and immediately placed in front of a template 1/16 with black lines on a white background, the clarity of the black lines was observed through the liquid adhesive composition and the observations recorded. If no turbidity was noticed and the black line was visible without any distortion, the sample was classified as clear. The presence of slight turbidity, which still allows clear discrimination of the black lines, was classified as turbid. No clear black lines were observed and classified as turbid.

Homogeneity

If two distinct layers have formed, phase separation (if present) is observed.

Peel adhesion failure test method

Peel adhesion failure temperature ("PAFT") was tested according to the standard PAFT test in ASTM D-4498, except that the thickness of the specimen sandwich was 10 mils +/-2 mils, the oven temperature was automatically raised at a 25 ℃/hour temperature rise rather than manually, and a 100 gram weight was used.

Examples E1-E7 and controls C1 and C2

Examples E1-E7 and controls C1 and C2 were prepared by mixing the components in the amounts (wt%) specified in table 1 and heating the mixture at 175 ℃ to 190 ℃ with stirring. Examples E1-E7 and controls C1 and C2 were then tested according to the viscosity, cure time,% fiber tear, and PAFT test methods except that the viscosity was measured at 177 ℃, 149 ℃, or 135 ℃ as indicated in the table and the cure time and% fiber tear were measured at an application temperature of 177 ℃ or 149 ℃ as indicated in the table. Clarity and homogeneity were additionally determined. The results are reported in table 1.

1-AFFINITY GA-1950 ethylene-octene interpolymer (Dow DuPont Chemicals Company, Midland, Michigan, Mich.) of Midland, Mich.)

2-AFFINITY GA-1900 ethylene-octene interpolymer (Dow DuPont Chemicals Company, Midland, Michigan, Mich.) of Midland, Mich.)

3-ATEVA 1880A ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl acetate content of 6.7 mol% (AT Plastics Inc., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)

4-ATEVA 2842A ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl acetate content of 11.2 mol% (AT Plastics Inc., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)

5-ALCUDIA PA-407 ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl acetate content of 5.5 mol% (Repsol, Taipei City, Tawain, Taiwan, China)

6-ESCORENE 2528 ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl acetate content of 11.2 mol% and a melt index of 900g/10min (Exxon Chemical)

7-VISTA MAX 8780 metallocene catalyzed Polypropylene/ethylene copolymer with 17.0 mole% ethylene content (ExxonMobil)

8-VISTA MAX 8380 metallocene catalyzed Polypropylene/ethylene copolymer having an ethylene content of 17.5 mole% (ExxonMobil)

9 ENABLE 33900 ethylene-n-butyl acrylate copolymer having a butyl acrylate content of 9.7 mole% and a melt index of 900g/10min (Exxon Chemical)

10-ALCUDIA PA-27150 ethylene-n-butyl acrylate copolymer having a butyl acrylate content of 7.5 mol% and a melt index of 150g/10min (Repsol, Taipei City, Tawain, Taiwan, China)

KRATON G1652 styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (Shell Chemical Company, Houston, Tex., USA) with a molecular weight distribution of KRATON G1652

KRATON G1657 styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (Shell Chemical Company, Houston, Tex., USA) with styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene

13-RESINALL R1030 hydrogenated cycloaliphatic Hydrocarbon resin (Akrochem Corporation, Akron, Ohio, Akrochem Corporation, Akron, Ohio)

14-ESCOREZ 5400 hydrogenated alicyclic Hydrocarbon resin (ExxonMobil)

15-SX-105 Fischer-Tropsch wax (Shell Malaysia Ltd, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Spanish, Georgia, Malaysia)

16-C80 Fischer-Tropsch Wax (Sasol Wax North America Corporation (Hayward, California, Calif.))

EVERNOX 1010 hindered phenolic antioxidant (BASF Corporation, Florham Park, N.J.)

18-EVERNOX 76G hindered phenol antioxidant (BASF Corporation, Florham Park, N.J.)

NT ═ untested

19H homogeneous

Examples E8-E16 and C3

Examples E8-E16 and C3 were prepared by mixing the components in the amounts (wt%) specified in table 2 and heating the mixture at 175 ℃ to 190 ℃ with stirring. Examples E8-E16 and C3 were then tested according to the viscosity, cure time, percent fiber tear and PAFT test methods except that the viscosity was measured at 177 ℃, 149 ℃ or 135 ℃ as indicated in the table and the cure time and percent fiber tear were measured at an application temperature of 177 ℃ or 149 ℃ as indicated in the table. Clarity and homogeneity were additionally determined. The results are reported in table 2.

20-AFFINITY GA-1000R maleic anhydride modified ethylene-octene copolymer (Dow DuPont Chemicals Company, Midland, Michigan, Mich.) of Midland, Mich.)

21-TRECORA CWP-400 polyethylene wax (Trecora Chemical, Pasadena, Tex., USA)

Examples E17 to E20

Examples E17-E20 were prepared by mixing the components in the amounts (wt%) specified in table 3 and heating the mixture at 175 ℃ to 190 ℃ with stirring. Examples E17-E20 were then tested according to the viscosity, cure time, percent fiber tear, and PAFT test methods, except that the viscosity was measured at 177 ℃, 149 ℃, or 135 ℃ as indicated in the table, and the cure time and percent fiber tear were measured at the application temperature of 177 ℃ or 149 ℃ as indicated in the table. Clarity and homogeneity were additionally determined. The results are reported in table 3.

TABLE 3

22-AERAFIN 17 propylene-ethylene copolymer (Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport, Tennessee, Kingport, USA, Kingport, Tennessee, Inc.)

23-AERAFIN 180 propylene-ethylene copolymer (Eastman, USA)

Examples E21 and E22

Examples E21 and E22 were prepared by mixing the components in the amounts (wt%) specified in table 4 and heating the mixture at 175 ℃ to 190 ℃ with stirring. Examples E21 and E22 were then tested according to the viscosity, cure time,% fiber tear, and PAFT test methods except that the viscosity was measured at 177 ℃, 149 ℃, or 135 ℃ as indicated in the table and the cure time and% fiber tear were measured at the application temperature of 177 ℃ or 149 ℃ as indicated in the table. Clarity and homogeneity were additionally determined. The results are reported in table 4.

TABLE 4

Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (13)

1. A hot melt adhesive composition comprising:

a first copolymer comprising a copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of no greater than 0.90 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm)³) Ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers of (a);

a second copolymer comprising a styrenic block copolymer;

a tackifier;

a synthetic wax having a melting point of at least 70 ℃ and a heat of fusion of at least 200 joules/gram (J/g); and

at least 5% by weight of a third polymer selected from

An ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer derived from at least 90 mole% ethylene and no more than 10 mole% comonomer,

an ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymer derived from at least 90 mole% ethylene and no more than 10 mole% comonomer,

a propylene-alpha-olefin copolymer derived from at least 8 mole percent comonomer having a heat of fusion of at least 5J/g to no greater than 60J/g and a polydispersity index of no greater than 10, and

a propylene homopolymer having a heat of fusion of at least 5J/g to no greater than 60J/g.

2. The hot melt adhesive composition of claim 1, wherein the synthetic wax is a wax derived from ethylene, a Fischer-Tropsch wax, or a combination thereof.

3. The hot melt adhesive composition of claim 1, wherein the composition exhibits a set time of no greater than 1 second.

4. The hot melt adhesive composition of claim 1, wherein the third polymer is selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene methyl acrylate, ethylene n-butyl acrylate, and combinations thereof.

5. The hot melt adhesive composition of claim 1, wherein the third polymer comprises ethylene vinyl acetate derived from no greater than 8 mole% vinyl acetate.

6. The hot melt adhesive composition of claim 1, wherein the composition exhibits a viscosity of no greater than 1500cP at 177 ℃.

7. The hot melt adhesive composition of claim 1, comprising

5 to 25% by weight of an ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer,

2 to 15% by weight of a styrene block copolymer,

15 to 50 wt% of a tackifier,

10 to 35% by weight of a synthetic wax, and

5 to 25 weight percent of a third polymer.

8. The hot melt adhesive composition of claim 1, wherein the styrenic block copolymer comprises styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene.

9. The hot melt adhesive composition of claim 1, wherein the third polymer comprises an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer derived from less than 20 weight percent vinyl acetate, an ethylene n-butyl acrylate derived from less than 30 weight percent n-butyl acrylate, or a combination thereof.

10. The hot melt adhesive composition of any one of claims 1 and 9, wherein the styrenic block copolymer is derived from less than 35 wt.% styrene.

11. The hot melt adhesive composition of claim 1, wherein the composition exhibits a peel adhesion failure temperature of at least 50 ℃.

12. The hot melt adhesive composition of claim 1, wherein the composition exhibits at least 50% fiber tear at-29 ℃.

13. The hot melt adhesive composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is homogeneous when tested according to the clarity and homogeneity test method.