Composite Hole Closure Patch for Airtight Fire-Resistant Sealing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hole-closing solutions in vehicle structures, such as plastic and metal parts, are inadequate in preventing moisture penetration, ensuring airtight and watertight seals, improving sound insulation, and providing resistance to mechanical stress, heat, and fire, while being logistically burdensome and costly.

Innovation Solution

A die-cut product comprising a metallic layer with a thickness of 12 to 20 µm, optionally embossed, combined with a glass fabric or scrim layer and a pressure-sensitive adhesive, designed to securely close holes in vehicle parts, ensuring airtight and watertight seals, improved sound insulation, and resistance to heat and fire.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If plastic plugs are used to close holes, then holes can be sealed, but they do not close the hole securely and are complex and expensive to produce

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehole closure securityVSAvoidplug production complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite structure consisting of a metallic layer (12-20 µm thick, optionally embossed) combined with a glass fabric or scrim layer and a pressure-sensitive adhesive. This composite material provides both secure mechanical closure and simplified production compared to traditional plastic plugs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If adhesive tapes are used for hole closure, then sealing can be achieved, but they do not always meet the increasing demands of the market for secure closure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehole closure securityVSAvoidmarket requirement adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The composite structure with metallic layer, glass fabric layer, and pressure-sensitive adhesive provides enhanced mechanical strength and secure closure while maintaining adaptability to various hole sizes and shapes through die-cutting processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The metallic layer thickness is optimized to 12-20 µm to provide sufficient mechanical strength for secure closure while remaining adaptable to different application requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If existing hole closure methods are used, then holes can be sealed, but they fail to provide adequate resistance to moisture, heat, and fire

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemoisture penetration preventionVSAvoidresistance to heat and fire
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The combination of metallic layer, glass fabric layer, and pressure-sensitive adhesive creates a composite material that simultaneously provides moisture barrier properties, heat resistance, and fire resistance, addressing multiple harmful factors with a single solution.

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 effectively prevents moisture penetration, provides secure mechanical closure, enhances sound insulation, and offers improved resistance to heat and fire, addressing the limitations of existing hole-closing methods.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure-sensitive adhesive

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure-sensitive adhesive: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3943283B1Stamped piece, in particular for permanent closure of holes
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 TESA SE
  • EP3943283B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3943283B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b
  • EP3943283B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention relates to a die-cut part, in particular for permanently sealing holes, especially in sheet metal or plastic parts, with a carrier made of a composite, in particular a laminate, in the specified layer sequence comprising optionally at least one first layer formed by a metallic layer with a thickness of 10 to 40 µm, optionally at least one second layer formed by a glass fabric or glass mat with a basis weight of 30 to 200 g/m², optionally at least one third layer formed by a first pressure-sensitive adhesive with a basis weight of 70 to 200 g/m², at least one fourth layer formed by a flame-retardant foam with a thickness of at least 0.5 to 2.5 mm, and at least one fifth layer formed by a second acrylate-based pressure-sensitive adhesive with a basis weight of 300 to 1800 g/m².preferably 360 to 1500 g/m2 and/or a thickness of 400 to 1800 µm, preferably 800 to 1500 µm.