Waterproofing Membrane With Reflective Particles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial waterproofing membranes for concrete require a removable release sheet to prevent adhesion issues during rolling, leading to waste and installation challenges, and lack a reflective surface for UV protection and foot traffic tolerance.
Innovation Solution
A waterproofing membrane with a flexible carrier sheet, a uniform pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, and substantially reflective inorganic particles that eliminate the need for a release sheet, providing a reflective surface for UV protection and improved adhesion to concrete.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a removable release sheet is used to prevent adhesion during rolling, then the adhesive portion does not adhere to the carrier sheet, but the release sheet creates environmental waste and requires removal and disposal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the release sheet component entirely from the membrane structure. Instead of using a separate removable release sheet, the invention integrates adhesion prevention directly into the carrier sheet through a release coating applied to its outer surface, eliminating the need for disposal and reducing environmental waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the adhesion prevention function with the carrier sheet itself by applying a release coating to the outer surface of the carrier sheet. This merging eliminates the need for a separate release sheet layer, simplifying the overall structure and eliminating waste disposal requirements.
2Reliability
If a release sheet is used to protect the adhesive layer, then adhesion is prevented during rolling, but the release sheet must be removed prior to or during installation adding complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the release sheet component from the system and replaces it with a release coating on the carrier sheet. This eliminates the removal step during installation, as the release coating remains in place and naturally releases the adhesive layer when needed without requiring manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The release coating on the carrier sheet provides self-service adhesion prevention during storage and automatically releases the adhesive layer during installation without requiring manual removal steps. The system manages its own release function through the properties of the coating material.
3Ease of operation
If the adhesive layer is exposed without a release sheet, then the membrane can be installed directly, but the adhesive will adhere to the carrier sheet when rolled up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a release coating specifically to the outer surface of the carrier sheet where adhesion control is needed, while leaving the adhesive layer exposed and ready for installation. This localized application provides adhesion prevention exactly where required (at the rolling surface) without interfering with the adhesive's bonding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure where the carrier sheet is combined with a release coating layer on its outer surface. This composite provides both the structural function of the carrier sheet and the adhesion control function of the release coating, while maintaining an exposed adhesive layer for direct installation.
4Reliability
If a protective coating is applied to the adhesive layer, then adhesion is protected, but the coating may be slippery when wet and not suitable for foot traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the protective coating from the adhesive layer entirely, replacing it with a release coating on the carrier sheet. This extraction eliminates the foot traffic problem associated with slippery protective coatings while maintaining adhesive protection through the carrier sheet's release coating mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying a protective coating to the adhesive layer (top-down protection), the patent applies a release coating to the carrier sheet (bottom-up protection). This inversion places the protective function at the carrier sheet level rather than the adhesive surface, preventing adhesion issues without creating a slippery surface on the adhesive.
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 membrane achieves strong bonding to concrete, tolerates foot traffic, and prevents adhesion to the carrier sheet when rolled, eliminating the need for a release sheet and enhancing durability against UV exposure.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensitive adhesive layer on one surface of the carrier sheet
Implementation Method 2
substantially reflective inorganic particles adhered to the outer exposed surface of the pressure sensitive adhesive
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Disclosed is a waterproofing membrane that bonds to concrete cast against it (i.e., post-cast concrete). The membrane includes a flexible carrier sheet, a pressure sensitive adhesive and reflective particles on the surface of the adhesive. The reflective particles should have an average diameter equal to or greater than the thickness of the pressure sensitive adhesive. Preferably, the reflective particles are ground white cement, ground hydrated white cement, ground partially-hydrated white cement or a mixture of two or more of these. The membrane does not have a removable release sheet that is typically used to prevent the adhesive portion of the membrane from adhering to the carrier sheet or other portion of the membrane when the membrane is rolled up.