Foamable hot melt adhesive compositions and use thereof

1. A foamed adhesive comprising about 20 to about 80 V/V % of foamed gas or air and 80 to about 20 V/V % of an adhesive composition prepared with

(a) a hot melt adhesive comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene-acrylate, polyolefin, and mixtures thereof, and optionally a wax, a tackifier, a plasticizer, and an additive;

(b) from about [3] to about 10 wt % of an olefin block copolymer having a melt index of equal to or greater than 5 g/10 min measured in accordance with ASTM D1238 at 190° C. and a DSC melting point greater than 100° C.; and

(c) optionally, from about 0.05 to about 10 wt % of a foam cell promoter;

wherein the ratio of the polymer in the hot melt adhesive to the olefin block copolymer is in the range of about 20:1 to about 2:1.

2. The foamed adhesive of claim 1 , wherein the polymer has a crystallinity range of from about 5% to about 60%.

3. The foamed adhesive of claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin is ethylene-alpha olefin or propylene copolymer.

4. The foamed adhesive of claim 1 , wherein the foam cell promoter is a gas, a blowing agent, kicker or a plurality of microspheres.

5. The foamed adhesive of claim 1 , wherein the foam cell promoter is selected form the group consisting of azodicarbonamide, oxybis(benzenesulfonylhydrazide), toulenesulfonylhydrazide, diphenylsulfone-3,3′-disulfohydrazide, trihydrazinotriazine, p-toulenesulfonyl semicarbazide, 5-phenyltetrazole, isatoic anhydride, sodium bicarbonate, citric acid and mixtures thereof.

6. The foamed adhesive claim 1 , wherein the foamed adhesive has a 50% faster set time and 50% higher adhesion than a foamed adhesive composition without the olefin block copolymer.

7. An article comprising the foamed adhesive of claim 1 .

8. The article of claim 7 which is a cardboard case, bag, book, graphic art, tray and carton, sealer or laminant.

9. The foamed adhesive claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin is an ethylene-octene copolymer.