Silicone Rubber Multilayer Bonding for High-Temperature Adhesion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multilayer articles face challenges in achieving effective bonding between silicone rubber and polyurethane layers, particularly in high-temperature and high-pressure environments, due to the low reactivity of silicone rubber surfaces, leading to issues with structural integrity, thermal stability, adhesion, abrasion resistance, and increased thickness requirements.

Innovation Solution

A bonded multilayer article is created by applying a flame treatment to the surface of a silicone-containing rubber layer to activate it, inducing reactive radicals and polarized components, which enhances adhesion when bonded to a glass syntactic polyurethane layer, using high consistency silicone rubber (HCR) as the inner layer and glass syntactic polyurethane (GSPU) as the outer layer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If silicone rubber surface is used for bonding, then thermal stability is maintained, but adhesion to polyurethane layer is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal stabilityVSAvoidadhesion
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The silicone rubber surface undergoes preliminary oxidation treatment before bonding with polyurethane. This preliminary action introduces reactive oxygen-containing groups on the silicone surface, creating a chemically active interface that enhances adhesion while preserving the thermal stability of the bulk silicone rubber material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Strength

If layer thickness is increased, then structural integrity is improved, but flexibility and handling become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidflexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical parameters of the silicone rubber surface through oxidation treatment, introducing polar groups that significantly enhance interfacial adhesion. This allows the bonding interface to withstand stresses with thinner layers, thereby maintaining structural integrity while preserving flexibility and ease of handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If minimum thickness requirement is reduced, then manufacturing cost decreases, but bond strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidbond strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

By applying preliminary oxidation treatment to the silicone rubber surface, the invention creates a chemically active interface that achieves superior adhesion strength. This allows the use of thinner silicone layers while maintaining adequate bond strength, thereby reducing material consumption and manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary 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 process results in a multilayer coating with improved thermal stability, increased adhesion, reduced thickness, and enhanced abrasion resistance, suitable for high-temperature and high-pressure applications such as subsea oil drilling operations.

Implementation Method 1

a first step of (a) applying a flame surface treatment on at least a portion of a surface of a silicone-containing rubber layer to activate the surface of the silicone-containing rubber layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlame treatment: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

inducing reactive radicals and polarized components, which enhances adhesion when bonded to a glass syntactic polyurethane layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface activation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentEP3898240B1Bonded multilayer article
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • EP3898240B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3898240B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3898240B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A bonded multilayer article including: (a) at least one first layer of a silicone-containing rubber substrate material bonded to (b) at least one second layer of a substrate material bondable to the first layer; wherein at least a portion of the surface of the first layer is activated for adhesion to increase the bond strength of the first layer to a second layer such that the bond strength of the first layer bonded to the second layer is increased; and a process for producing the above bonded multilayer article.