Adhesive Liner with Getter Layer for Optoelectronic Permeate Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing adhesive solutions for optoelectronic devices are inadequate in preventing permeation by water vapor and oxygen, leading to performance degradation over time, particularly in organic optoelectronics, due to the sensitivity of these devices and the limitations of current barrier adhesives and encapsulation methods.

Innovation Solution

A liner containing an abhesive separating layer and a getter material layer, such as silicone-based or polyolefin-based separating layers combined with getter materials like lithium, calcium, or zeolites, is used to protect adhesives from permeates, preventing both environmental and trapped substances from reaching the adhesive.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional barrier adhesives or liquid adhesives are used to protect optoelectronic devices, then some protection against permeates is provided, but the protection is insufficient and performance degradation still occurs over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against permeatesVSAvoidservice life of device
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite adhesive system consisting of a polymer base (such as polyolefin, polyester, or polyurethane) combined with specific inorganic fillers (like aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, or titanium oxide) and barrier agents. This composite structure provides enhanced resistance to water vapor and oxygen permeation compared to conventional pure polymer adhesives, thereby improving both protection reliability and device service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs a thin-film adhesive layer with controlled thickness (typically 1-10 micrometers) that acts as a flexible barrier between the optoelectronic device and the environment. This thin film provides effective protection against permeates while maintaining the flexibility required for various device configurations, solving the contradiction between adequate protection and device flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Duration of action of stationary object

If encapsulation methods are used to protect optoelectronic devices from water vapor and oxygen, then device lifetime is extended, but the encapsulation process adds complexity and may affect device flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelifetime of deviceVSAvoidencapsulation process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the barrier function directly into the adhesive layer itself, combining the bonding function and the protection function into a single material system. This eliminates the need for separate encapsulation layers or complex multi-step encapsulation processes, thereby extending device lifetime without adding excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive composition is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical bonding between components, acts as a barrier against water vapor and oxygen permeation, and maintains flexibility for device assembly and operation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated encapsulation layers, simplifying the overall device structure while extending lifetime.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If liquid adhesives are used as barrier adhesives, then some barrier effect is achieved, but low-molecular-weight components can damage electronic structures and application is labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebarrier effectVSAvoidapplication process ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the molecular weight and chemical composition parameters of the adhesive system by using high-molecular-weight polymers with controlled molecular weight distributions. This reduces the presence of low-molecular-weight volatile components that could damage electronic structures. Additionally, the viscosity parameters are optimized to enable easier application while maintaining barrier effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If crosslinking is used to improve barrier effect of adhesives, then protection against permeates is enhanced, but the crosslinking process requires additional energy input and time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebarrier effectVSAvoidenergy for crosslinking
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs selective crosslinking where only specific regions or specific functional groups within the adhesive polymer chain are crosslinked, rather than complete crosslinking of the entire adhesive layer. This localized crosslinking approach provides sufficient barrier enhancement against permeates while minimizing the energy input and time required for the crosslinking process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The proposed liner effectively prevents permeation, maintaining the adhesive's integrity and extending the service life of optoelectronic devices by ensuring the adhesive remains permeate-free during storage and use, without the need for separate pretreatment or complex packaging processes.

Implementation Method 1

A liner containing an abhesive separating layer and a getter material layer, such as silicone-based or polyolefin-based separating layers combined with getter materials like lithium, calcium, or zeolites, is used to protect adhesives from permeates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSorption: Sorption

Data Source

PatentEP2607439B1Liner for the protection of adhesive masses
Publication Date: 2024.10.16 TESA SE
  • EP2607439B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2607439B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP2607439B1 patent drawingFigure 7

AI summary

Liner for protecting adhesive composition, comprises at least one anti-adhesive separating layer (11), and at least one layer (20) of getter material for sorption of at least one permeating substance, comprising e.g. lithium, beryllium, boron, sodium, magnesium, silicon, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, nickel, zinc, gallium, germanium, cadmium, indium, cesium, barium, boron oxide, calcium oxide, chromium oxide, manganese oxide, iron oxide, copper oxide, silver oxide, indium oxide, barium oxide, lead oxide, potassium hydroxide, metal salts, metal hydrides and/or carbodiimides. Liner for protecting adhesive composition, comprises at least one anti-adhesive separating layer (11), and at least one layer (20) of getter material for sorption of at least one permeating substance, comprising lithium, beryllium, boron, sodium, magnesium, silicon, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, nickel, zinc, gallium, germanium, cadmium, indium, cesium, barium, boron oxide, calcium oxide, chromium oxide, manganese oxide, iron oxide, copper oxide, silver oxide, indium oxide, barium oxide, lead oxide, phosphorous oxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, metal salts, metal hydrides, anhydrides of mono- and polycarboxylic acids, sodium dithionite, carbohydrazide, ascorbates, gallic acid, zeolites, carbon nanotubes, activated carbon, and/or carbodiimides. An independent claim is also included for the adhesive composition, which is at least one side and at least partially covered with the liner.