[pcm81]

Pretty much any time i need to clean up an object that had gorilla tape, duct tape or other sticky residue leaving adhesive on it, the easiest way to clean it was always to rub it with oil and then wash oil off with soap and water. It got me thinking about the science behind why oil makes adhesives not sticky. Same principle applies to cleaning surfaces of oil prior to gluing them, just in the case of gorilla tape residue there is a visibly large quantity of adhesive that is neutralized by oil, not just a block of the surface contact as would be a case of trying to glue something to an oily surface. What's the chemistry behind it?

[P]

It is like the oil is acting as a solvent for the polymer in the adhesive, softening it and dissolving it making it easier to wipe away.  The polymer sticks to the oil chains rather than the substrate maybe and is easier to remove from the surface it was stuck to.

That's my guess anyway.

[P]

... thinking about the science behind why oil makes adhesives not sticky. ....What's the chemistry behind it?

The adhesive and the oil are both hydrocarbon. There is a saying in chemistry that "like attracts like".

[Mitch]

... thinking about the science behind why oil makes adhesives not sticky. ....What's the chemistry behind it?

The adhesive and the oil are both hydrocarbon. There is a saying in chemistry that "like attracts like".

Or like dissolves like.