Hot-Melt Self-Adhesive Particles for Fibrous Bonding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bonding adhesives for flexible coverings, such as textiles, face issues with toxic fumes, high water content, freezing risks, and the need for drying processes, making them costly and impractical for use on fibrous surfaces, while hot-melt adhesives require pre-coating and are limited to band production.

Innovation Solution

A dry bonding composition of hot-melt self-gripping particles with spikes and/or barbs, made from meltable thermoplastics, that can cling to fibrous surfaces without solvents or dispersants, allowing for adjustable bonding strength and distribution, and can be applied directly as a powder, eliminating the need for drying and preserving flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If solvent-based adhesives are used for bonding flexible coverings, then bonding effectiveness is improved, but toxic fumes are generated during implementation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding effectivenessVSAvoidtoxic fumes
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical state parameter of the adhesive from liquid (solvent-based) to solid particles (hot-melt), eliminating the solvent phase and its associated toxic emissions while maintaining bonding functionality through thermal activation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive undergoes a phase transition from solid particles at room temperature to molten state during bonding, enabling effective bonding without requiring solvent-based formulations that generate harmful fumes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

2Object-generated harmful factors

If water-based adhesives are used for bonding, then toxic fumes are reduced, but water content increases transport costs and freezing risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetoxic fumesVSAvoidwater content
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the base medium parameter from water to air-dryable hot-melt particles, eliminating the need for large amounts of water while maintaining environmental friendliness and eliminating freezing risks associated with high water content formulations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and eliminates the water component from the adhesive formulation, using minimal water only for particle suspension during application, thereby reducing transport costs and freezing risks while maintaining the benefits of water-based adhesives

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Shape

If liquid or pasty adhesives are used, then continuous bonding surface is achieved, but drying operations are required and flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous bonding surfaceVSAvoiddrying time
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of starting with a continuous liquid adhesive that requires drying, the invention uses discrete solid particles that are applied dry and then fused together, inverting the traditional sequence and eliminating the drying step while preserving flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The continuous bonding surface is achieved not through a continuous liquid layer but through the fusion of discrete particles, segmenting the adhesive into individual units that maintain flexibility while creating effective bonding when melted together

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Loss of time

If hot-melt adhesives are applied as dry powder, then drying operations are eliminated, but pre-coating with liquid adhesive is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying operationsVSAvoidpre-coating process
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hot-melt particles are designed to be self-adhering through their spiked structure, eliminating the need for pre-coating with liquid adhesive. The particles attach to themselves and the substrate through mechanical interlocking when melted, making the process self-sufficient

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

5Strength

If adhesive penetrates deeply into material thickness, then bonding strength is improved, but flexibility of bonded parts is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding strengthVSAvoidflexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive particles are concentrated at the surface interface between bonding substrates rather than penetrating deeply throughout the material thickness, providing localized bonding strength while preserving the flexibility and bulk properties of the bonded materials

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 solution enables efficient, flexible, and cost-effective bonding of flexible parts with reduced penetration into the material thickness, preserving elasticity, and allowing for selective bonding on complex surfaces without the drawbacks of traditional adhesives, such as solvent-based or water-based adhesives.

Implementation Method 1

formed of solid particles... capable of changing from a solid at room temperature, for example, in a viscous or even liquid state as soon as the temperature crosses a predetermined temperature threshold

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 2

having spikes and/or barbs capable of penetrating and clinging to the fibers of one face of such a flexible part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical interlocking: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP2367891B1Composition of hot-melt, self-adhesive particles and sticking method using same
Publication Date: 2016.09.14 C GEX SYSTS
  • EP2367891B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2367891B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a composition of particles, referred to as hot-melt, self-adhesive particles (10, 20), made from a fusible thermoplastic material suitable for sticking parts together and having spikes (21) and/or barbs (11, 22) which can be hooked to the surface of at least one part to be stuck, in particular to the fibres of at least one surface of the parts to be stuck. The invention also relates to a sticking method using such a composition.