HNBR-Polyamide Hose Bonding Without External Adhesives

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multilayer hose designs require cumbersome and messy adhesive application processes using substances like epoxy or acrylic glues, which pose health hazards and result in sporadic coverage, and there is a need for improved adhesion methods that eliminate these risks and enhance hose performance.

Innovation Solution

A hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) formulation is developed with a peroxide cure system that allows direct bonding to polyamide thermoplastics during vulcanization, eliminating the need for external adhesives and ensuring strong, consistent adhesion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If polyamide is used as substrate for HNB fuel cells, then mechanical strength and chemical stability are improved, but adhesion of catalyst layer is worsened due to low surface energy and hydrophobicity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidadhesion of catalyst layer
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A polydopamine coating layer is applied as an intermediary between the polyamide substrate and the catalyst layer. This coating layer serves as a bridge that provides both mechanical support and chemical functionality for catalyst attachment, resolving the adhesion problem while preserving the mechanical strength of the original polyamide substrate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The surface energy and surface chemistry of the polyamide substrate are changed by applying a polydopamine coating. This transformation converts the hydrophobic, low-surface-energy polyamide surface into a hydrophilic, high-surface-energy surface with abundant reactive groups, enabling strong catalyst layer adhesion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Power

If extraction is used to prepare HNB catalyst, then catalyst activity is improved, but adhesion to polyamide substrate is worsened due to loss of adhesion-promoting substances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecatalyst activityVSAvoidadhesion to substrate
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The polydopamine coating acts as an intermediary that compensates for the loss of adhesion-promoting substances during extraction. It provides alternative chemical groups that strongly interact with the extracted catalyst, ensuring high adhesion even when the catalyst has been thoroughly extracted to maximize activity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system forms a composite structure consisting of the extracted HNB catalyst, polydopamine coating layer, and polyamide substrate. This composite approach allows the catalyst to be highly active (through extraction) while the polydopamine provides the necessary adhesion functionality that would otherwise be lost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Stability of the object's composition

If hydrophobicity of polyamide is utilized, then chemical stability is improved, but catalyst layer adhesion is worsened due to repulsion of water-based catalyst inks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechemical stabilityVSAvoidcatalyst layer adhesion
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The polydopamine coating creates a local quality change at the surface level while preserving the bulk chemical stability of the polyamide. The coating layer is thin and surface-specific, providing hydrophilicity and reactivity where needed for catalyst adhesion, while the underlying polyamide maintains its chemical stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The surface hydrophobicity parameter of the polyamide is changed by the polydopamine coating, transforming it from hydrophobic to hydrophilic. This parameter change enables water-based catalyst ink adhesion while the bulk polyamide retains its chemical stability properties.

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 HNBR formulation achieves robust covalent linkages to polyamide thermoplastics, reducing permeation and residue extraction, thereby enhancing hose performance and safety while meeting stringent permeation and pressure requirements.

Implementation Method 1

Low extraction hnbr material with adhesion to polyamides

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP4536473B1Low extraction HNBR material with adhesion to polyamides
Publication Date: 2026.05.13 DANFOSS AS
  • EP4536473B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4536473B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Low permeation barrier- and veneer -style multilayer fuel and air conditioning hoses are provided comprising an HNBR rubber layer directly bonded to a polyamide layer. A low extraction, peroxide cured HNBR thermoset rubber formulation is provided that directly bonds to polyamide thermoplastic during the vulcanization step without the need of external glue adhesive application.