Pipe Liner Hot-Melt Bonding for UV-Cured Sewer Rehabilitation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pipe liners lack effective bonding between the inner film and the resin-impregnated fiber tapes, necessitating the removal of the inner hose, which is not necessary with the present invention.

Innovation Solution

A thermally activatable hot-melt adhesive material with adhesion-promoting properties is used, tailored to the curing conditions, ensuring the inner film bonds firmly to the curable or cured carrier material during resin curing, eliminating the need for inner hose removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If functional groups on the inner film surface are used to react with fiber tubes, then bonding between inner film and resin-impregnated fiber material is improved, but the bonding is still insufficient and inner film removal is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding strength between inner film and resin-impregnated fiber materialVSAvoidadequacy of bonding
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the bonding mechanism from chemical reaction (functional groups) to thermal bonding (melting point and flow behavior). The thermally activatable hot-melt adhesive material is designed with specific melting point and flow characteristics that enable it to melt during resin curing and form strong bonds with both the inner film and resin-impregnated fiber material, achieving reliable bonding without film removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a composite structure where the inner film is combined with a thermally activatable hot-melt adhesive material layer. This composite approach allows the adhesive material to serve as an intermediate bonding layer that thermally bonds to both the inner film and the resin-impregnated fiber material, achieving superior bonding strength compared to using functional groups alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If inner film removal is performed to achieve adequate bonding, then bonding reliability is improved, but process complexity and time are increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding reliabilityVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The thermally activatable hot-melt adhesive material is pre-applied to the inner film surface before resin installation. During the resin curing process, the exothermic heat automatically activates the adhesive material, which melts and bonds the inner film to the resin-impregnated fiber material. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for subsequent inner film removal operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The resin curing process itself provides the heat necessary to activate the bonding mechanism. The exothermic heat generated during resin curing automatically melts the thermally activatable hot-melt adhesive material, enabling self-bonding without requiring external heating equipment or manual intervention for film removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If thermally activatable hot-melt adhesive material is used, then inner film bonding is improved and removal is eliminated, but material complexity is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding reliabilityVSAvoidmaterial structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent selects thermally activatable hot-melt adhesive materials with specific melting points and flow behaviors optimized for the resin curing temperature range. By carefully controlling these thermal parameters, the adhesive material achieves optimal bonding performance while maintaining compatibility with the resin curing process, balancing material complexity with bonding reliability.

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 inner film remains in the rehabilitated sewer pipe after installation, achieving improved adhesion, strength, and sealing properties, suitable for pressurized pipeline systems.

Implementation Method 1

at least one layer of a thermally activatable hot-melt adhesive material with adhesion-promoting properties, namely between the inner pipe film and a reinforcing layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 2

an outer film facing the channel wall and an inner film facing the medium to be transported, with at least one reinforcing layer made of at least one fiber tube impregnated with a photochemically curable resin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotopolymerisation: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 3

the temperature increases or temperatures occurring during the curing of the resin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExothermic Reaction: Exothermic Reaction

Data Source

PatentEP4610042A1Hose liner
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 INNOVANCE GMBH
  • EP4610042A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP4610042A1 patent drawingFigure 1D~1E
  • EP4610042A1 patent drawingFigure 1F~2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a multi-layer pipe liner which has at least one layer of a thermally activatable hot-melt adhesive material with adhesion-promoting properties, namely between the inner pipe film and a reinforcing layer which contains a reinforcing material with a reaction material which can be cured under UV/light radiation, so that the inner pipe film bonds inseparably with the reinforcing layer during the curing process and forms a unit with the outer film on the channel wall.