Polyether Macromer Adhesive for Foldable Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for pressure-sensitive adhesives in electronic devices that can maintain adhesion under normal conditions, deformation, and traumatic forces, such as bending, folding, and dropping, while also providing impact resistance and flexibility, especially as the electronics industry trends towards device simplification and reduced thickness.
Innovation Solution
A polymeric adhesive composition derived from a polymerizable composition containing a polyether-containing macromer with a urea or carbamate linkage between a (meth)acryloyl group and a polyether group, combined with an alkyl (meth)acrylate and a crosslinking agent, which forms a pressure-sensitive adhesive with enhanced peel strength and impact resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional pressure-sensitive adhesives are used to bond components in electronic devices, then adhesion strength is sufficient under normal conditions, but the adhesive fails to maintain bonding during deformation (bending, folding, flexing) and traumatic forces (dropping)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite adhesive composition containing multiple polymer components: a polyether-containing macromer (providing flexibility and impact resistance), an alkyl (meth)acrylate (providing adhesion), and a crosslinking agent (providing structural integrity). This composite formulation allows the adhesive to simultaneously achieve strong bonding under normal conditions and resistance during deformation and impact events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical structure and physical parameters of the adhesive by incorporating a polyether-containing macromer with specific molecular weight and structure. This changes the adhesive's viscoelastic properties, allowing it to absorb energy during deformation and impact while maintaining bond strength. The crosslinking agent further modifies the polymer network structure to enhance mechanical properties.
2Reliability
If adhesive composition is formulated to provide high adhesive strength and impact resistance, then bonding durability is improved, but device thickness and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive composition performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides strong adhesion under normal conditions, resistance during deformation (bending, folding), and impact resistance (dropping). The polyether-containing macromer serves dual purposes by providing both flexibility for deformation and structural integrity for impact resistance, eliminating the need for separate protective layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the composition parameters of the adhesive, specifically the ratio and type of polymer components, to achieve maximum performance with minimum thickness. The crosslinking agent creates a dense polymer network that provides high strength-to-thickness ratio, allowing thin adhesive layers to withstand impact and deformation forces.
3Adaptability or versatility
If adhesive composition is designed to maintain flexibility and compliance, then adaptability to component deformation is improved, but adhesive strength and impact resistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite polymer system where the polyether-containing macromer provides flexibility and elastic recovery, while the alkyl (meth)acrylate and crosslinking agent provide adhesive strength and impact resistance. The synergistic combination allows the adhesive to be compliant enough to accommodate component deformation while remaining strong enough to resist impact and maintain bonding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the molecular weight, structure, and concentration of the polyether-containing macromer to achieve the desired balance between flexibility and strength. The crosslinking density is controlled to ensure the adhesive remains compliant for adaptation while developing sufficient strength for impact resistance.
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 adhesive composition provides improved adhesion and impact resistance, maintaining performance under high temperature and humidity conditions, and flexibility, making it suitable for use in electronic devices that require durability and optical clarity.
Implementation Method 1
The polyether-containing macromer has a urea (—NH—(C═O)—NH—) or carbamate (—NH—(C═O)—O—) linkage between a polyether group and a (meth)acryloyl group
Implementation Method 2
Adhesives that can dissipate energy and resist delamination forces associated with high strain events (e.g., flexing and folding)
Data Source
AI summary
An adhesive composition containing the polymer derived from the polyether-containing monomer is provided. More specifically, the polyether-containing macromer having a urea (—NH—(C═O)—NH—) or carbamate (—NH—(C═O)—O—) linkage between the polyether group and a (meth)acryloyl group. The adhesive composition is typically a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Additionally, an article is provided that contains the adhesive composition positioned adjacent to a substrate. The articles can be, for example, an adhesive tape or can be part of another article that is flexible and foldable such as, for example, an electronic device that is flexible and/or foldable. The adhesive compositions can be tolerant of high temperature and high humidity conditions (e.g., 65 degrees Celsius and 90 percent relative humidity for 14 days).