Adhesive Stick with Inert Drip Retaining Agent for Thermal Breaks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Heat insulating profiles with adhesive sticks face issues of adhesive dripping during oven coating, leading to reduced adhesion and oven contamination, especially in longer profiles where end plugs are not effective, resulting in uneven adhesion and mechanical strength reduction.

Innovation Solution

An adhesive stick comprising a mixture of 30-50% inert drip retaining agent and 50-70% adhesive, with the inert agent being a thermoplastic polyamide that remains solid at high temperatures, preventing adhesive dripping and ensuring uniform distribution and enhanced adhesion between heat insulating and thermally conductive profiles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If adhesive is applied to the groove in the heat insulating profile, then adhesion between profiles is improved, but adhesive drips down during oven coating reducing adhesion at top ends and contaminating the oven

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesion between profilesVSAvoidadhesive dripping and oven contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive stick uses a composite material consisting of adhesive mixed with inert filler particles (such as calcium carbonate, talc, or silica). This composite formulation allows the adhesive to maintain its position during oven coating while still providing effective adhesion. The filler particles act as a skeletal structure that prevents the adhesive from flowing downward under heat softening, thereby solving the contradiction between maintaining adhesion strength and preventing adhesive dripping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical parameters of the adhesive by incorporating inert filler particles, which modify the adhesive's flow characteristics and thermal behavior. The filler particles reduce the adhesive's tendency to flow when heated, allowing it to maintain its position in the groove during the coating process while still providing effective bonding after cooling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If adhesive stick comprises only adhesive material, then adhesion is maximized, but adhesive loses position and drips during heating

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadhesionVSAvoidadhesive position stability during heating
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive stick is formulated as a composite material where adhesive is mixed with inert filler particles. The filler particles (such as calcium carbonate, talc, or silica) create a rigid skeletal structure within the adhesive matrix that prevents flow during heating. This composite approach maintains both the adhesive's bonding capability and its positional stability under thermal conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The inert filler particles act as an intermediary substance within the adhesive stick. These particles do not chemically react with the adhesive but provide a physical framework that restricts adhesive flow. The filler particles mediate between the adhesive's need to remain position-stable and its need to maintain adhesive properties, allowing the adhesive to fulfill both requirements simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If heat insulating profiles are made longer to reduce joints, then thermal break efficiency is improved, but adhesive dripping problem worsens due to greater gravitational effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal break efficiencyVSAvoidadhesive dripping
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The composite adhesive stick formulation with inert filler particles provides internal structural support that counteracts the gravitational effect on longer profiles. The filler particles create a rigid framework that prevents the adhesive from flowing downward even over extended vertical distances during the coating process, enabling the use of longer heat insulating profiles without exacerbating the dripping problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 maintains uniform adhesive distribution along the entire length of the profiles, prevents oven contamination, and enhances the tensile strength and adhesion between profiles, ensuring a stable thermal break with improved resistance to slipping.

Implementation Method 1

During the powder coating process, the adhesive is heated, increases in volume, melts and escapes from the groove, pressing against the surface of the thermally conductive profile

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

the inert agent being a thermoplastic polyamide that remains solid at high temperatures

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Data Source

PatentEP1842886B1An adhesive stick, a method for manufacturing the adhesive stick and a heat insulating profile comprising the adhesive stick
Publication Date: 2008.08.06 ALFA SOLARE
  • EP1842886B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1842886B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

Described is an adhesive stick applicable to a heat insulating profile (2). The heat insulating profile (2) can be interposed between thermally conductive profiles (3) to create a thermal break. The adhesive stick characteristically comprises a mixture which in turn comprises an adhesive and an inert drip retaining agent.