EVA Copolymer Swimming Pool Coating for Chlorine Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in swimming pool construction poses environmental and health hazards, prompting the need for alternative materials that are safer for animal and plant health, as PVC may be banned in the future.

Innovation Solution

A method using an ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) copolymer coating material, applied in the form of a tape or mat, with an adhesion promoter and adhesive layer, cross-linked at ambient temperature, to construct a swimming pool, offering a PVC-free alternative with similar versatility and strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If PVC is used as coating material for swimming pools, then the pools gain resistance to chlorine and durability, but environmental and health problems arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to chlorineVSAvoidenvironmental and health problems
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the coating material from PVC to EVA copolymer with specific vinyl acetate content (10-40 wt%), transforming the material properties to eliminate harmful effects while maintaining functional performance including chlorine resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite coating system consisting of EVA copolymer base material combined with adhesion promoter layers and adhesive layers, creating a multi-layer composite structure that provides both environmental safety and structural durability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If PVC is replaced with alternative materials, then environmental safety improves, but material strength and versatility may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental safetyVSAvoidmaterial strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the vinyl acetate content parameter within 10-40 wt% range to achieve the right balance between material softness for shock absorption and sufficient strength for structural integrity, eliminating the need for harmful PVC while maintaining performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If hard coating materials are used, then durability is improved, but shock absorption and comfort are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidshock impact
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material hardness parameter by selecting EVA copolymer with specific vinyl acetate content (10-40 wt%), which provides softer, more flexible characteristics that absorb shocks while maintaining adequate durability through the cross-linked adhesive system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This solution avoids the ecological and toxicological issues associated with PVC, providing a softer, shock-absorbing pool surface that is energy-efficient and safer for health, while maintaining the material's strength and versatility.

Implementation Method 1

applying at least one adhesion promoter layer (8, 8') to at least part of the abutment surfaces (12, 14) of the pool wall (2, 4) and of the coating material (10)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

cross-linking the adhesive layer (16) between the coating material (10) and the pool wall (2, 4) in mutual contact

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCross-linking: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP3351708B1Method for making a swimming pool and a swimming pool
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 MAPI SRL
  • EP3351708B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

Method for the construction of a swimming pool (1) comprising steps of: i) providing one or more pool walls (2, 4) demarcating a pool compartment (6); ii) providing a coating material (10) for said pool wall (2, 4) or said plurality of walls, said material (10) consisting of an ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) copolymer; iii) applying at least one adhesion promoter layer (8, 8') on at least part of the abutment surfaces (12, 14) of the pool wall (2, 4) and of the coating material (10); iv) superposing at least one adhesive layer (16) on at least one of the adhesion promoter layers (8, 8') of step iii); v) crosslinking the adhesive layer (16) between the coating material (10) and the pool wall (2, 4) in mutual contact, so as to obtain said pool (1). The present invention further relates to a swimming pool.