Self-adhesive bandages

The use of adhesives in medical applications has been restricted, for some time, to the manufacture of self-adhesive bandages (plasters, self-adhesive strips of fabric, etc.). The first pressure-sensitive adhesives used for this were based on natural rubber, concocted decades ago. This first usage was later partly superseded by synthetic rubbers (e.g., polyisoprene, polyisobutylene). In die mid-twentieth century, pressure-sensitive adhesives based on polyacrylic acid esters gained predominance in general use and in the composition of bandage materials. 

The use of coatings applied in the form of tape is also increasing. Polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride films, either self adhesive or else supporting films of butyl adhesive, petrolatum or butyl mastic are in use as materials applied cold at ambient temperatures. Woven glass fibre or nylon bandage is also used to support films of filled asphalt or coal tar and these are softened by propane gas torches and applied to the steel surface hot, cooling to form a thick conforming adherent layer. 

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