Adhesive Polymer Joint Seal for Concrete
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Solution Overview
Problem
Construction joints in concrete structures often fail to provide reliable and permanent sealing, allowing water penetration due to inadequate sealing technologies.
Innovation Solution
A carrier element with an adhesive polymer layer made from UV-crosslinked polymer, featuring acidic reactive groups and a protective film, is used to create a durable and elastic seal between concrete sections, ensuring a watertight connection through chemical bonding and reduced stress absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sealing materials (cement, calcium hydroxide, bentonite) are used, then sealing effect is provided, but adhesion to concrete surface is insufficient and permanent sealing cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the sealing material by incorporating a polymer layer with carboxyl groups that can form chemical bonds with concrete surfaces. This chemical parameter change enables permanent adhesion and reliable sealing, preventing water penetration that plagues conventional materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite sealing structure combining polymer material with carboxyl functional groups and concrete surface. The composite nature of this system - where the polymer chemically bonds to the concrete - provides both adhesion and sealing functionality, resolving the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and permanent attachment.
2Reliability
If metal water stops with polymer coating are used, then sealing effect is increased, but production cost increases and application complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the metal carrier component from conventional water stops, using only the polymer sealing layer with carboxyl groups. This extraction simplifies manufacturing by removing the metal forming and galvanization processes, while maintaining reliable sealing through the chemically-active polymer material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adopts a disposable polymer-based sealing strip that is inexpensive to manufacture and apply. The single-use nature of the product simplifies installation (no need for complex metal water stop assembly) and achieves reliable sealing through the chemical bonding capability of the polymer layer, making the overall system more cost-effective despite the sealing material itself being durable.
3Reliability
If cement-based sealing material is used, then crystallization sealing is achieved, but adhesion promoter integration is critical and manufacturing precision is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sealing mechanism from relying on crystallization of cement/calcium hydroxide to relying on chemical bonding via carboxyl groups in the polymer. This parameter change in the sealing mechanism eliminates the need for precise control of crystallization conditions and adhesion promoter integration, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining reliable sealing.
4Reliability
If protective cover is used to protect sealing coating, then sealing material is protected, but additional application steps are required and installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the separate protective cover component from the system. The polymer sealing strip is applied directly to the concrete surface without requiring additional protective covers, thereby eliminating the time-consuming step of installing and later removing protective covers while still providing effective sealing through the chemically-bonded polymer layer.
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 solution provides a reliable, permanent, and watertight seal with enhanced adhesion properties, maintaining effectiveness over time and resisting heat aging, while being easy to apply and dispose of, without requiring preheating or toxic materials.
Implementation Method 1
the polymer layer being designed as an adhesive film made from a UV-crosslinked polymer... suitable for bonding via a chemical bond to at least one concrete surface
Implementation Method 2
an adhesive polymer layer made from UV-crosslinked polymer
Implementation Method 3
as an elastic film, this adhesive polymer layer has a certain elasticity, so that stress can be reduced between the carrier element and the concrete surface adjoining it
Implementation Method 4
the polymer layer is provided with acidic reactive groups and which is suitable for bonding via a chemical bond to at least one concrete surface adjoining the polymer layer
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The joint seal element (11) has a carrier element (19), which is formed in thin-walled and lamellar manner and has a sectional wise coating longitudinal to a lateral surface of the carrier element and in the width of carrier element. The coating is made of a glued polymer layer that is reinforced with reactive carboxyl groups and is insoluble in alkaline medium, which is provided on the carrier element. The opposite side of carrier element is covered with a protective film. The carrier element is made of untreated metallic material, particularly steel plate or plastic material.