Abstract: Non-tacky, base polymers are plasticized into pressure-sensitive adhesives and comprise: a) about 100 parts by weight of a base copolymer having a Tg greater than about 0° C., wherein the base copolymer is formed from and comprises: (1) about 50 to 70% by weight of a high Tg comonomer component, wherein the homopolymer formed from the high Tg comonomer component has a Tg of at least about 20° C.; (2) optionally, up to about 20% by weight based on the total weight of the base copolymer of an acidic comonomer; and (3) about 30 to 50% by weight of one or more low Tg (meth)acrylate comonomer, wherein the Tg homopolymer of the low Tg comonomer is less than about 20° C., and b) about 1 to about 100 parts based on the base copolymer of a nonreactive, non-volatile, non-acrylic-based plasticizing agent.

Abstract: A method for aqueous bead-type suspension polymerization of (meth)acrylic monomers to prepare non-agglomerating, storage stable (meth)acrylic polymer beads which are extrudable at low temperatures. The invention also relates to the polymer beads and to their use as adhesive, in particular as a pressure sensitive adhesive. The invention also discloses adhesive compositions comprising the polymer beads.