Thermally Curable Epoxy Tape for Stiff Cable Jacketing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for jacketing elongate items like cable looms with adhesive tapes result in flexible products, which are undesirable for manufacturing purposes, as they require additional material and complexity for assembly to maintain shape and avoid contact with components like engines.
Innovation Solution
A method using a thermally curable adhesive tape with a carrier strip coated with a curable composition comprising fatty acid-modified epoxy resin and an epoxy-amine adduct, cured at temperatures between 120° C and 200° C to achieve a stiffened, rigid jacketing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If adhesive tape with conventional adhesive is used for jacketing elongate items, then the jacketing is flexible and easy to apply, but the item lacks sufficient stiffness and requires additional injection-molded parts for shape maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting specific epoxy resin types (fatty acid-modified epoxy resins with 8-18 carbon atoms) and controlling curing parameters (temperature 120-200°C, time 10-120 minutes) to achieve the desired stiffness of the jacketed item without requiring additional structural components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining fatty acid-modified epoxy resins with specific curing reagents (epoxy-amine adducts) to create an adhesive composition that provides both flexibility during application and sufficient stiffness after curing, eliminating the need for additional injection-molded parts
2Shape
If adhesive tape with conventional adhesive is used for jacketing elongate items, then the application process is simple, but additional injection-molded parts are required to maintain shape and avoid contact with engine components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the adhesive by using fatty acid-modified epoxy resins with specific chain lengths (8-18 carbon atoms) to achieve optimal balance between shape stability and ease of manufacture, allowing the adhesive tape itself to provide the necessary structural support
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the shape-maintaining function from separate injection-molded parts and integrates it into the adhesive composition itself, eliminating the need for additional components while maintaining shape stability
3Strength
If thermal curing is applied to the adhesive tape, then the jacketed item achieves sufficient rigidity, but the curing process requires specific temperature and time control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes curing parameters by selecting specific temperature ranges (120-200°C) and time periods (10-120 minutes) that achieve the desired rigidity while providing a reasonable processing window for manufacturing control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using fatty acid-modified epoxy resins with specific carbon chain lengths (8-18 atoms) that provide appropriate viscosity and reactivity characteristics for controlled thermal curing, enabling precise control of the curing process
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 method provides a stiffened elongate item that can be held in a specific arrangement, reducing material and assembly complexity while maintaining structural integrity and protective functions.
Implementation Method 1
the curable adhesive is made to cure by the supply of thermal energy particularly at a temperature between 120° C. and 200° C. for 10 to 120 minutes
Implementation Method 2
a self-adhesive layer that is thermally curable comprising one or more epoxy resins and at least one curing reagent for epoxy resins
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for covering elongated articles, in particular cable sets using a curable adhesive tape.