Linerless Adhesive Tapes Using Biodegradable Polyester Amide Copolymers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adhesive labels and tapes are not effectively biodegradable and linerless, lacking tack-free properties at room temperature and higher storage temperatures, which complicates their storage and application, and they often require release coatings to prevent sticking, leading to waste.
Innovation Solution
Development of linerless labels and tapes using a formulation with at least 90 weight percent of a polyester amide segmented block copolymer impregnated into a woven or non-woven substrate, allowing for easy application at elevated temperatures without the need for release coatings or liners, ensuring biodegradability and reduced waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If traditional pressure sensitive adhesives are used with liners, then the adhesive can be stored without sticking, but the liner creates waste and is environmentally unfriendly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the liner component from the adhesive label system entirely. By developing a linerless adhesive composition that remains non-tacky during storage and only becomes adhesive upon heating, the patent eliminates the need for a separate backing paper or liner, thus preventing waste while maintaining ease of storage and application.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the temperature parameter of the adhesive system. The adhesive composition is designed to transition from a non-tacky state at room temperature to an adhesive state when heated to a specific temperature range. This parameter change allows the adhesive to be stored without sticking (like traditional lined adhesives) but applied directly without a liner (environmentally friendly).
2Loss of substance
If linerless adhesive compositions are used, then environmental waste is reduced, but the adhesive becomes tacky at room temperature making storage difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite adhesive formulation consisting of multiple components: a polyester amide segmented block copolymer, a polyol, and a diisocyanate. This composite material structure provides the unique property of remaining non-tacky at room temperature while becoming adhesive when heated, thus enabling linerless application without storage problems.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive composition's tack properties are controlled through temperature parameter changes. The formulation is designed to exhibit different physical states at different temperatures: non-tacky at room temperature for easy storage, and adhesive at elevated temperatures for application. This parameter-based control resolves the contradiction between being linerless and maintaining stability during storage.
3Strength
If the adhesive is heated to application temperature, then bonding is achieved, but the adhesive must remain stable at room temperature during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes phase transition of the adhesive composition in response to temperature changes. The adhesive undergoes a phase transition from a solid-like non-tacky state at room temperature to a more fluid adhesive state when heated. This phase transition enables the adhesive to maintain stability during storage while achieving strong bonding during application through controlled heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-component composite adhesive formulation (polyester amide segmented block copolymer, polyol, and diisocyanate) is designed to exhibit temperature-dependent properties. The specific composition ratios and chemical structures of these components work together to provide thermal reversibility, ensuring the adhesive remains stable and non-tacky during storage but achieves strong bonding strength when heated to the application temperature range.
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 provides biodegradable, tack-free adhesive labels and tapes that can be conveniently stored and applied at room temperature and up to 150°C, eliminating the need for liners and release coatings, thus reducing environmental impact and improving application efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
heating to a temperature above the melting point of the polyester amide composition
Implementation Method 2
impregnated into a woven or non-woven substrate
Data Source
AI summary
A linerless label or tape comprises a substantially biodegradable, natural or synthetic, woven or non-woven substrate impregnated with a formulation including at least 90 weight percent of a polyester amide segmented block copolymer. This label or tape may be conveniently prepared above the melt temperature of the copolymer and is printable. It offers the advantage of being able to be prepared such that it is substantially non-tacky at room or storage temperatures, and yet may be easily affixed to a substrate when heated to a temperature above the melt temperature of the impregnant, preferably ranging from 60°C to 150°C. "Linerless" is defined as not requiring a separable, wastable layer, and a release coating to facilitate rolling or stacking is also not required.