Radiation cross-linkable hot-melt contact adhesives

1. A radiation crosslinkable hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive, comprising:

15 to 89.99 wt. % of at least one linear radiation crosslinkable polymer as component (A) comprising a plurality of epoxy groups, wherein the epoxy groups are statistically distributed over the length of said radiation crosslinkable polymer, wherein component (A) does not include star-shaped polymers, wherein at least 75% of component (A) is an epoxidized butadiene homopolymer, an epoxidized isoprene homopolymer, an epoxidized butadiene copolymer, an epoxidized isoprene copolymer, or mixtures thereof, and wherein said polymer does not include terminal —OH groups;

10 to 85 wt. % of at least one tackifying resin possessing no epoxy groups as component (B);

0 to 20 wt. % of at least one low molecular weight oligomer as component (C), wherein the oligomer possesses reactive groups that can react with the epoxy groups of component (A); and

0.01 to 30 wt. % of at least one additive comprising a photo initiator as component (D).

2. The adhesive of claim 1 , wherein component (A) comprises 0.1 to 20 meq/g of epoxy groups.

3. The adhesive of claim 2 , wherein component (A) comprises 0.2 to 15 meq/g of epoxy groups that are statistically distributed over the chain length.

4. The adhesive of claim 1 , wherein the molecular weight of component (A) is in the range of 1000 to 100,000 g/mol.

5. The adhesive of claim 1 , wherein component (A) is free from —OH groups.

6. The adhesive of claim 1 , wherein component (C) comprises 5 to 15 wt. % of at least one oligomeric compound with a molecular weight of less than 1000 g/mol, wherein the oligomeric compound possesses functional groups that are reactive towards the epoxy groups of component (A).

7. The adhesive of claim 6 wherein the functional groups that are reactive towards the epoxy groups of component (A) are epoxy or OH groups.

8. The adhesive of claim 1 wherein component (D) further comprises a sensitizer, plasticizer, stabilizer, wax, adhesion promoter, or mixtures thereof.

9. The adhesive of claim 1 , wherein the photo initiator is comprised of at least one radiation-sensitive initiator for cationic polymerization.

10. The adhesive of claim 9 , additionally comprising at least one radical initiator.

11. The adhesive of claim 1 , wherein component (B) comprises 25 to 65 wt. % of at least one tackifying resin.

12. The adhesive of claim 1 wherein component (D) further comprises 3 to 20 wt. % of at least one plasticizer.

13. The adhesive of claim 1 , wherein the viscosity at 130° C. is less than 4500 mPas.

14. The adhesive of claim 13 , wherein the viscosity at 130° C. is less than 1000 mPas.

15. A process for adhering labels to packaging, comprising

applying the adhesive of claim 1 to both ends of a label;

adhering the label on and around a package, wherein part of the label coated with the adhesive overlaps another part of the label;

irradiating the adhesive for crosslinking; and

shrinking the label onto the package.

16. The process of claim 15 , wherein the packaging has a rotationally symmetrical shape.

17. The process of claim 15 , wherein the irradiation is carried out by UV light or electron beam.

18. The process of claim 15 , wherein the adhesive is applied at an application temperature of up to 130° C.

19. A process for manufacturing self-adhesive tapes, films or labels, comprising

applying the adhesive of claim 1 to a tape, film or label;

irradiating the adhesive for crosslinking; and

covering the adhesive tape, film, or label with an anti-adhesive backing film.