Sprayable Hot Melt Adhesive Pellets for Hygiene Articles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hot melt adhesives for construction applications face challenges in being both sprayable and supplied in pellet form, as they often have high-tack surfaces that prevent self-sticking during manufacturing, transport, and storage, and their stiffness affects processability.
Innovation Solution
A hot melt adhesive composition combining olefin block copolymers (OBC) and ethylene-octene copolymers, along with a tackifying resin, plasticizer, and synthetic or petroleum wax, which allows for sprayability and pellet supply without compromising bond strength, processability, or flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hot melt adhesive is formulated for sprayability, then it can be applied using spray nozzles and coating techniques, but it develops high-tack surface that prevents self-sticking during manufacturing, transport, and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the hot melt adhesive by incorporating specific additives (waxes, plasticizers, tackifiers) in controlled amounts to adjust the surface properties. This changes the tackiness parameter to prevent self-sticking while preserving sprayability, resolving the contradiction between ease of application and storage stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite adhesive formulation combining multiple polymer components (styrene block copolymer, olefin block copolymer, amorphous polyolefin) with functional additives. This composite structure allows the adhesive to exhibit sprayability from the polymer matrix while the additive components control surface tackiness to prevent unwanted self-sticking during storage and handling.
2Ease of operation
If hot melt adhesive uses olefin block copolymer (OBC), then it achieves sprayability, but it becomes stiff and low-tack which affects processability and adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple polymer types (styrene block copolymer for adhesion, olefin block copolymer for sprayability, amorphous polyolefin for flexibility) into a single formulation. This combination allows the adhesive to simultaneously achieve sprayability from the OBC component while maintaining processability through the other polymer components, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent formulates a composite adhesive system where different polymer components contribute different properties. The olefin block copolymer provides sprayability while styrene block copolymer and amorphous polyolefin compensate for stiffness and low-tack issues, ensuring adequate processability and adhesion performance.
3Extent of automation
If hot melt adhesive is supplied in pellet form, then it allows automatic feeding in manufacturing, but high-tack surfaces cause self-sticking during manufacturing and transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the surface tackiness parameter of the adhesive formulation by incorporating specific amounts of waxes and plasticizers. This parameter change reduces surface adhesion enough to prevent self-sticking during pellet handling and transport while maintaining the adhesive's bonding performance during application, enabling automatic feeding systems to operate without pellet clumping.
4Strength
If hot melt adhesive increases bond strength, then it provides excellent adhesion, but it reduces flexibility in construction applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines polymer components with different mechanical properties: styrene block copolymer contributes to bond strength while amorphous polyolefin and plasticizers provide flexibility. This merging of components with complementary properties allows the adhesive to simultaneously achieve excellent adhesion and flexibility required for construction applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite adhesive formulation where the polymer matrix provides bond strength through specific polymer chemistry while plasticizers and waxes embedded in the composite structure provide flexibility and adaptability. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between strength and versatility by distributing different functional properties across different components.
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 composition achieves suitable rheological behavior, adhesion, and flexibility, enabling it to be used in construction applications, including nonwoven disposable articles, while maintaining the ability to be supplied in pellet form for automatic feeding.
Implementation Method 1
Hot melt adhesives are products that are applied to the surface of a material in a molten state at high temperatures and harden when cooled to room temperature
Implementation Method 2
these products are supplied to the user in a solid state and, later, heated and applied in a liquid state
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention refers to a sprayable hot melt adhesive composition based on olefin block copolymers and ethylene-octene copolymers, being its final form of supply pellets. More particularly, this invention refers to a hot melt adhesive composition which find utility in manufacturing nonwoven disposable articles such as diapers and feminine care products. The hot melt adhesive composition of the present invention is particularly useful in construction applications, where rheological behaviour, adhesion and flexibility are desired.