Crystalline Thermoplastic Polyurethane Hot-Melt Adhesive Composition

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) hot-melt adhesives have melting points in the range of 60-70 °C, exhibit long crystallization times, and lack sufficient heat and abrasion resistance, resilience, and faster processing times.

Innovation Solution

A crystalline thermoplastic polyurethane composition is developed, comprising a reaction product of a polyisocyanate component, polybutanediol succinate, optionally a chain extender, and optionally a catalyst, with a melting point of 80 °C to 130 °C and a recrystallization time of less than five minutes, enhancing heat resistance, abrasion resistance, and processing speed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If conventional TPU (polycaprolactone-based) is used as hot-melt adhesive, then the adhesive is easy to process and apply, but the melting point is low (60-70°C) resulting in poor heat resistance and long crystallization time (over 20 minutes)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemelting pointVSAvoidcrystallization time
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the TPU by using polybutanediol succinate instead of polycaprolactone as the polyol component, and by controlling the NCO/OH ratio (0.8-1.2) and molecular weight (3000-6000 Daltons), achieving a melting point of 80-130°C and crystallization time under 5 minutes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite TPU system by combining polybutanediol succinate polyol with polyisocyanate, optionally adding chain extenders (1-10 phr) and catalysts (0.1-5 phr), achieving superior heat resistance and fast crystallization while maintaining adhesive properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Temperature

If conventional TPU composition is used, then the formulation is simple and cost-effective, but the heat resistance and abrasion resistance are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat resistanceVSAvoidformulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent elevates the melting point to 80-130°C through specific polyol selection (polybutanediol succinate with MW 3000-6000) and NCO/OH ratio control (0.8-1.2), providing heat resistance up to 100°C while maintaining manufacturability through standard polyurethane synthesis procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If conventional TPU is used as hot-melt adhesive, then the processing is straightforward, but the processing speed is slow due to long crystallization time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidcrystallization time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves crystallization time under 5 minutes (compared to over 20 minutes for conventional TPU) by optimizing the polyol molecular weight (3000-6000 Daltons) and NCO/OH ratio (0.8-1.2), enabling faster production cycles and higher productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses catalysts (0.1-5 phr of tin compounds, zinc compounds, or organic compounds) as intermediaries to accelerate the crystallization process, reducing processing time while maintaining bond quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 composition provides superior heat resistance, abrasion resistance, resilience, and faster crystallization times compared to conventional TPU hot-melt adhesives, making it suitable for improved adhesive performance.

Implementation Method 1

The crystalline thermoplastic polyurethane comprises the reaction product of an isocyanate component, a polyol component, wherein the polyol component comprises polybutanediol succinate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

the crystalline thermoplastic polyurethane composition may have a melting point of 80 °C to 130 °C

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 3

the crystalline thermoplastic polyurethane composition may have a recrystallization time after melting of less than five minutes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrystallization: Crystallisation

Data Source

PatentEP3268407B1Crystalline thermoplastic polyurethane composition for hot-melt adhesives
Publication Date: 2019.01.09 LUBRIZOL ADVANCED MATERIALS INC

AI summary

The disclosed technology relates to a crystalline thermoplastic polyurethane composition useful as a hot-melt adhesive, wherein the crystalline thermoplastic polyurethane in accordance with the present invention provides superior properties including higher melting point, heat resistance, abrasion resistance, resilience, and faster processing times.