Solvent-Free Polyamide Adhesion on Acrylonitrile Elastomers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Acrylonitrile-based elastomers, such as NBR, are difficult to bond using existing methods due to their high acrylonitrile content, which requires solvent-based adhesives and toxic pretreatment processes, posing challenges in adhesion and environmental sustainability.

Innovation Solution

A solvent-free hot melt composition based on polyamide with tertiary amides, specifically designed to adhere effectively to acrylonitrile-based elastomers, enhancing adhesion without altering mechanical properties and improving bonding performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If solvent-based adhesives are used to bond NBR, then adhesion is achieved, but environmental sustainability deteriorates due to toxic solvents and pretreatment processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesion effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental sustainability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the fundamental parameter of the adhesive system from solvent-based to solvent-free hot melt composition. This parameter change eliminates the need for toxic solvents like formaldehyde and metacresol, while maintaining effective adhesion to NBR through the specific polyamide composition with tertiary amides.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and eliminates the harmful solvent component from the adhesive system. By using a solvent-free hot melt polyamide composition, the toxic pretreatment steps and solvent application are completely removed, leaving only the essential adhesive function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If existing bonding methods are used on NBR, then adhesion is achieved, but process complexity increases due to multiple pretreatment steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesion effectivenessVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hot melt polyamide composition is prepared in advance with specific molecular structure (tertiary amides) that enables direct adhesion to NBR without requiring preliminary surface treatment. The composition is designed to be applied directly in its melt state and bond upon cooling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the adhesive composition and bonding process into a single step. The hot melt composition combines the adhesive agent and application medium into one material that is applied, cooled, and bonds in one continuous operation, eliminating separate pretreatment and adhesive application steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If solvent-based adhesives are used, then adhesion is achieved, but productivity decreases due to additional processing steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesion effectivenessVSAvoidassembly productivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The hot melt bonding process enables continuous operation where the adhesive is applied, cooled, and bonds in an uninterrupted sequence. The elimination of solvent evaporation steps and multiple pretreatment operations allows the bonding line to run continuously without idle time for drying or neutralization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention skips the time-consuming intermediate steps of solvent application, evaporation, and neutralization. The hot melt composition rushes through the bonding process by applying adhesive and achieving bond strength in one continuous action, significantly reducing cycle time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

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 polyamide composition achieves significantly higher adhesion levels than traditional methods, providing strong and sustainable bonding without the use of solvents, suitable for various industrial applications involving NBR substrates.

Implementation Method 1

a first substrate S1 based on acrylonitrile and a second substrate S2 adhering to one another by means of a thermoadhesive polyamide composition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

by heating generally above their melting temperature, for example around 180°C, become more or less viscous liquids

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 3

By cooling, adhesion is obtained between the substrate and the second surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFreezing: Freezing

Data Source

PatentEP2904062B1Composition and process for solvent-free adhesion on an acrylonitrile-based elastomer
Publication Date: 2018.12.19 ARKEMA FRANCE SA

AI summary

The invention relates to a polyamide composition which is thermo-adhesive on an acrylonitrile-based elastomer substrate, characterized in that it comprises from 10 mol% to 100 mol% of tertiary amide functions, relative to the total number of moles of amide functions of the composition. The invention also relates to a process for adhesion on an acrylonitrile-based elastomer substrate S1, characterized in that it comprises the use of a composition in accordance with the invention.