Decoupling Track Nub Base Structuring for Adhesive Strength

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing decoupling membranes have poor adhesion properties between floor covering elements and the substrate, leading to shear stress issues and damage, and their production is complex due to the need for additional adhesion-promoting layers or fibers.

Innovation Solution

A decoupling membrane with a carrier plate and numerous protrusions and depressions on the nub base and carrier plate, creating a structured surface for improved tile adhesive gripping and adhesion, eliminating the need for additional adhesion-promoting layers or fibers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If additional adhesion-promoting layers or fibers are applied to improve adhesion, then adhesive strength increases, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive strengthVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier plate surface is segmented into numerous protrusions and depressions, creating a micro-structured surface that mechanically interlocks with the adhesive. This segmentation replaces the need for additional adhesion-promoting layers or fibers by dividing the surface into multiple small anchoring points throughout the adhesive layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The carrier plate exhibits local quality variations through its structured surface with protrusions and depressions. Different regions of the surface have different geometries that optimize adhesive interaction locally, eliminating the need for uniform additional adhesion-promoting materials across the entire surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If additional adhesion-promoting layers or fibers are applied to improve adhesion, then adhesive strength increases, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesion-promoting function is merged directly into the carrier plate structure itself through the protrusion-depression pattern. This eliminates the need for separate adhesion-promoting layers or fibers, combining multiple functions (structural support and adhesion enhancement) into a single integrated component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The carrier plate's own structure provides the adhesion-promoting function through its geometric features. The protrusions and depressions self-generate the mechanical interlocking effect with the adhesive without requiring external materials or additional processing steps to add adhesion enhancement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If mold projections have sharp corners to define precise nub geometry, then manufacturing precision improves, but demoldability worsens due to cutting into soft material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenub geometry precisionVSAvoiddemoldability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The mold projections are designed with rounded corners instead of sharp edges. This curvature allows the projections to define precise nub geometry while avoiding stress concentration points that would cut into or tear the soft decoupling sheet material during demolding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP3580406B1Decoupling track
Publication Date: 2020.12.16 EWALD DORKEN AG
  • EP3580406B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3580406B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3580406B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a decoupling track (1) having a carrier plate (2) and a plurality of nubs (4) protruding out of the carrier plate plane (3). According to the invention, a plurality of protrusions (21a) and/or recesses (21b) is provided on the side of the nub base (10) of at least one nub (4) facing the nub interior space (20), and/or a plurality of protrusions (21c) and/or recesses (21d) is provided on the side of the carrier plate (2) facing the nub interior space (20), in particular wherein the protrusion (21a) and/or the recess (21b) on the nub base (10) and/or the protrusion (21c) and/or the recess (21d) on the carrier plate (2) have a height and/or a depth of greater than 1 µm, preferably greater than 100 µm, further preferably between 100 to 1000 µm and in particular at least substantially between 300 to 500 µm.