Insulating Foam Sealing Tape Roll for Delayed Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Compressible sealing tapes impregnated with adhesive agents to delay recovery increase thermal conductivity, reducing thermal insulation effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A sealing tape roll made of soft, compressible foam impregnated with small plastic spheres containing gas within a polymer shell, which reduce thermal conductivity by expanding upon heating, maintaining compressibility and thermal insulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the foam is impregnated with an adhesive to delay its return to its fully expanded state, then workability is improved, but thermal conductivity increases and thermal insulation is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveworkabilityVSAvoidthermal insulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines foam material with hollow glass spheres to create a composite sealing tape. The hollow glass spheres serve as thermal insulation particles that counteract the thermal conductivity increase caused by adhesive impregnation, while the foam matrix provides the delayed recovery function through adhesive impregnation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing tape uses foam material with porous structure that can be impregnated with adhesive. The porous structure allows the adhesive to penetrate and delay the foam's recovery, while the remaining air-filled pores maintain thermal insulation properties when combined with hollow glass spheres.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Volume of moving object

If the sealing tape is compressed and wound into rolls for storage and transport, then space-saving and ease of handling are improved, but thermal insulation performance is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidthermal insulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The hollow glass spheres embedded in the foam create a composite structure that maintains thermal insulation even when compressed. The spheres act as discrete thermal barriers that prevent heat transfer pathways from forming during compression and rolling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing tape is designed to be compressible to a specific degree for rolling, with the hollow glass spheres maintaining their structural integrity during compression. The compression ratio and recovery characteristics are optimized to balance storage efficiency with thermal insulation performance.

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

The sealing tape maintains high thermal insulation and compressibility, reducing thermal conductivity to ≤ 0.040 W/mK in both compressed and uncompressed states, while ensuring effective joint sealing.

Implementation Method 1

small plastic spheres made from a polymer shell containing gas, which expand upon heating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

the foams used to manufacture sealing tapes exhibit relatively low thermal conductivity due to the numerous air-filled pores between the cell walls

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 3

The surfaces of the plastic spheres are modified to have a hydrophobic surface layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobicity: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentEP4012129B1Sealing tape roll
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 ISO CHEM GMBH
  • EP4012129B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4012129B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The sealing tape roll (1) consists of a sealing tape (2) made of soft, compressible foam (20) which is impregnated to delay its recovery after compression and which, at least in some areas, comprises at least one substance that reduces the thermal conductivity of the sealing tape (2). The sealing tape has a top surface (4), a bottom surface (6), and two side flanks connecting the top surface (4) and the bottom surface (6), a longitudinal direction (L) oriented parallel to the bottom surface (6) and to the side flanks (8, 10) and perpendicular to a transverse direction (Q), and a vertical direction (H) oriented perpendicular to the bottom surface (6) of the sealing tape (2).The sealing tape (2) is wound around an axis (A) extending transversely to the longitudinal direction (L) of the sealing tape (2) into a sealing tape roll (1) such that the upper surface (4) of one turn rests against the lower surface (6) of an adjacent turn of the sealing tape roll (1) and the side flanks (8, 10) of the sealing tape (2) form end faces (12, 14) of the sealing tape roll (1). The substance is selected from the group consisting of small plastic spheres (24) made of a polymer shell containing gas and expanded due to heating, or graphite (26). Furthermore, when wound in the sealing tape roll (1), the sealing tape (2) has a compressed height (H1) in the vertical direction (H) of 5–30% of the initial height (H2) of the fully expanded sealing tape (2).