Reactive Adhesive Tape With Electrolyte for Electrical Debonding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing reactive adhesive tapes used in electronic, automotive, and medical devices face challenges with high bond strength that makes them difficult to remove without damaging temperature-sensitive substrates, and they lack sufficient storage stability, especially in smaller diecuts or elongated diecuts.

Innovation Solution

A reactive adhesive tape containing a curable adhesive layer with a base composition of polymers, radically polymerizable monomers and/or oligomers, initiators, and redox catalysts, enhanced with an electrolyte, particularly ionic liquids, allowing for easy electrical detachment by applying a voltage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If reactive adhesive tapes with high bond strength are used, then reliable bonding is achieved, but removal becomes difficult without damaging temperature-sensitive substrates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebond strengthVSAvoidease of removal
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the adhesive by incorporating an initiator system that responds to specific stimuli (heat, moisture, light, plasma, or electrical voltage). This allows the adhesive to maintain high bond strength under normal conditions but undergoes controlled degradation when the activation threshold is reached, enabling easy removal without damaging substrates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive system transitions from a static, permanently strong bond to a dynamic system that can switch between bonded and detached states. The initiator components remain dormant during bonding but activate upon stimulation, transforming the adhesive's properties from strong and stable to weak and removable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Temperature

If reactive adhesive tapes are stored at room temperature, then storage convenience is improved, but storage stability deteriorates due to premature curing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage temperatureVSAvoidstorage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive formulation includes initiator components (such as peroxides, azo compounds, or photoinitiators) that are pre-loaded but remain dormant during storage. These initiators are designed to activate only under specific conditions (heat, light, moisture) after application, preventing premature curing during room temperature storage while enabling controlled curing when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a chemically inert environment within the adhesive formulation by using stable precursor compounds that do not react with each other during storage. The initiator and reactive components are kept separate or in a dormant state, effectively creating an inert chemical environment that prevents premature polymerization while allowing activation when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

3Ease of operation

If adhesive bonds are designed for easy removal, then debonding becomes simple, but bond strength during service is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of removalVSAvoidbond strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive system incorporates dormant initiator components that prepare the bond for future removal while maintaining strong bonding during service. These initiators are designed to remain inactive during the bonding phase, ensuring full bond strength, but are positioned to activate easily when removal is desired, creating a built-in mechanism for controlled debonding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 tape can be easily and quickly detached from bonded substrates without affecting bond strength, maintaining storage stability even in smaller diecuts, suitable for miniaturized applications.

Implementation Method 1

the adhesive layer D can be electrically removed by applying a voltage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrochemical effect: Electrochemiluminescence

Implementation Method 2

a base composition, wherein the base composition comprises a) one or more polymers, and b) one or more radically polymerizable monomers and/or oligomers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadical polymerization: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentEP4588988A1Reactive adhesive tape, reactive adhesive tape system, bonded composite, and method for electrically releasing the bonded composite
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 TESA SE
  • EP4588988A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4588988A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4588988A1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a reactive adhesive tape, a reactive adhesive tape system, a bonded composite, a method for electrically detaching the bonded composite, and the use of the adhesive tape or adhesive tape system for bonding components in electronic, optical, or precision mechanical devices, automobiles, medical devices, and dental devices. The reactive adhesive tape comprises at least one reactively curable adhesive layer D containing a base composition, wherein the base composition contains a) one or more polymers, and b) one or more radically polymerizable monomers and/or oligomers, and c) at least one initiator and/or d) at least one redox catalyst, and wherein the reactively curable adhesive layer D additionally contains e) at least one electrolyte.