Acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive: fundamentals, uv-curable strategies, and bio-based pathways toward sustainable design

Acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) is among the most widely used adhesive materials, valued for their optical clarity, environmental durability, and highly tunable viscoelastic properties. This review summarizes key principles of acrylic PSA design and highlights two major pathways advancing its sustainability. The first focuses on the development of UV-curable acrylic PSA, where rapid light-driven crosslinking reduces energy demand and minimizes solvent use. The second examines bio-based acrylic PSA, including renewable monomers and additives that partially replace fossil-derived components while maintaining functional adhesive performance. Together, these approaches illustrate how curing strategies and renewable feedstocks are shaping more sustainable acrylic PSA systems. Current challenges and future opportunities are also discussed.