Polyolefin Hot Melt Adhesive Cohesive Strength via Composite Formulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hot melt adhesives formulated with polyolefin polymers have lower cohesive strength compared to those with styrene block copolymers, making them less suitable for construction applications in disposable absorbent articles, despite having lower odor advantages.

Innovation Solution

A hot melt adhesive composition comprising a first propylene-based copolymer with specific co-monomer content and melt index, a second propylene-based copolymer with controlled Tg and viscosity, a tackifying agent, and a plasticizer, along with a polypropylene wax, which together provide enhanced cohesive strength and low odor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If polyolefin polymers are used in hot melt adhesives for construction applications, then odor is reduced, but cohesive strength decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveodorVSAvoidcohesive strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite adhesive formulation combining polyolefin polymer with styrene block copolymer (SBC). The polyolefin component provides low odor characteristics while the SBC component contributes high cohesive strength. This composite approach allows the adhesive to achieve both low odor and high strength properties that neither polymer could provide alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If styrene block copolymers are used in hot melt adhesives for construction applications, then cohesive strength increases, but odor increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecohesive strengthVSAvoidodor
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different functional roles to different polymer components in the adhesive formulation. The styrene block copolymer specifically provides cohesive strength and bonding performance, while the polyolefin polymer specifically provides odor reduction. This functional differentiation allows each component to optimize its contribution without compromising the other property.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If polyolefin polymers with low co-monomer content are used, then cohesive strength improves, but processing difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecohesive strengthVSAvoidprocessing difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the co-monomer content parameter of the polyolefin polymer to fall within the specific range of 5-20 weight percent. This parameter optimization balances cohesive strength (improved with lower co-monomer content) and processability (maintained with adequate co-monomer content). The controlled parameter range ensures both high performance and manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10786594B2High cohesive strength polyolefin construction adhesive
Publication Date: 2020.09.29 HB FULLER CO

AI summary

The invention includes a hot melt adhesive composition based on polyolefin polymers that can be used for construction applications in a disposable absorbent article. The olefin based hot melt adhesive composition has surprisingly good cohesive strength and a low odor.