Seal Coating for Fasteners That Expand After Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening, reinforcing, and baffling devices with adhesive coatings face challenges in allowing subsequent coatings and manufacturing processes after activation, as expanding adhesives immediately seal the gaps, preventing further applications.
Innovation Solution
A selectively activatable material coating with a blowing agent, accelerator, and fillers, milled to a particulate size, is applied to devices, expanding significantly upon heat exposure to seal gaps while allowing pre-activation manufacturing processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an expanding adhesive coating is applied to a fastening device, then the adhesive fills spaces and seals the device within an aperture or cavity, but the adhesive expands immediately upon application, preventing subsequent coatings or manufacturing procedures from occurring after device insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive is applied to the fastening device in advance during manufacturing, but its expansion is delayed until a later stage when heat is applied during or after assembly. This preliminary application without immediate activation allows subsequent manufacturing steps to proceed while ensuring the adhesive is in place for sealing when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive's physical state is changed by applying heat to trigger expansion. By controlling the temperature parameter, the adhesive remains in a non-expanded state during manufacturing and assembly, then expands when heated during or after installation to provide the sealing function.
2Reliability
If the adhesive is activated immediately upon application, then sealing is achieved, but no subsequent coatings can be applied to the aperture surface
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive is pre-applied to the fastening device during manufacturing without immediate activation. This preliminary action ensures the adhesive is positioned correctly while leaving the aperture surface accessible for subsequent coating operations before the adhesive is eventually activated by heat.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive activation is separated into distinct time periods: first, the adhesive is applied and allowed to remain inactive during manufacturing and assembly; second, heat is applied to activate the adhesive after or during final assembly, enabling sealing without interfering with prior manufacturing steps.
3Ease of operation
If a space exists between the device and the cavity, then the device can be installed, but fluids and gases can pass through the aperture or cavity
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive transitions from a non-expanded state during installation (allowing device placement in the aperture) to an expanded state when heated after installation. This parameter change fills the gap between the device and cavity wall, blocking fluid and gas flow while maintaining ease of installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive's volume is dynamic rather than static. It starts in a compact form that allows easy device installation, then expands dynamically when heated to fill the space between the device and cavity, preventing harmful fluid and gas flow while maintaining operational ease.
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 coating effectively seals and secures structures, enabling subsequent coatings and manufacturing procedures before activation, maintaining adhesion and expansion characteristics without cohesive failure.
Implementation Method 1
Upon exposure to an elevated temperature, the activatable material may expand to at least 100%, at least 500%, at least 1000% or even at least 3000% of its original size
Implementation Method 2
The activatable material comprises at least about 5.5% or greater blowing agent, blowing agent accelerator or both
Implementation Method 3
The activatable material may further comprise a dispersant having a molecular weight of less than about 50,000 amu
Data Source
AI summary
An activatable material coated device comprising a device and an activatable material, comprising at least about 5.5% or greater blowing agent, blowing agent accelerator or both. The activatable material is milled into a particulate size of from about 500 microns to about 10000 microns and the device is heated to a temperature of at least about 30° C. but below an activation temperature of the activatable material and contacted with the particulate of the activatable material, adhering the activatable material to the device.