Textile-Aluminum Composite Joining for Flexible Load-Bearing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technical textiles lack flexibility and malleability while supporting high loads, and existing combinations of textiles and metals for reinforcement or insulation are either too rigid or not designed for flexible, shape-changing applications.

Innovation Solution

A method combining a flexible woven or nonwoven textile with a malleable aluminum sheet, using a reactive polyurethane glue to secure them, allowing for the creation of a flexible, stress-resistant, and water-resistant textile-reinforced material that can be shaped and decorated.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If metal sheets are combined with textile substrates for reinforcement or insulation, then strength and load-bearing capacity are improved, but flexibility and malleability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload-bearing capacityVSAvoidflexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses thin metal sheets (foil) instead of rigid metal plates, allowing the material to bend and conform to shapes while maintaining strength. The thin film approach enables flexibility and malleability to be retained even with metal reinforcement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite material system combining textile substrates with metal foil layers and adhesive films. This multi-layer composite structure integrates the strength of metal with the flexibility of textile, achieving both load-bearing capacity and formability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Use of energy by stationary object

If metal layers are combined for insulation purposes, then thermal insulation is improved, but adaptability for shape-changing applications deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal insulationVSAvoidshape-changing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The use of thin metal foil layers provides thermal insulation while maintaining flexibility. The thin film structure allows the material to be shaped and reconfigured without rigid constraints, enabling both insulation and adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables dynamic shape-changing capability through the flexible construction of the material. The combination of textile and thin metal foil allows the structure to adapt to different configurations while maintaining insulating properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Strength

If adhesive pads with fibrous layers are used to join metal layers, then joining strength is improved, but flexibility of the final product deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejoining strengthVSAvoidflexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses thin adhesive films instead of thick fibrous adhesive pads. This thin film approach maintains joining strength while preserving the flexibility of the overall structure, avoiding the rigidity introduced by thick adhesive layers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 resulting material is highly flexible, capable of supporting heavy loads and undergoing various artistic processing while maintaining non-flammability and resistance to moisture, temperature, and mechanical stress.

Implementation Method 1

a glue is affixed over the entire apparent surface of the textile support positioned on the workbent. The glue is deposited on the support by means of a helical cylinder, at a rate of 30 to 40 grams per square meter, so as to form a homogeneous and uniform film

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

The method according to the invention can further be optimized using an annealing aluminum sheet, i.e., having undergone heat treatment for modifying the mechanical properties of the original material, to improve malleability

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnnealing: Annealing

Data Source

PatentEP3564026B1Method for manufacturing a technical textile combining a flexible textile support and a metal sheet and textile product obtained by the implementation of said method
Publication Date: 2022.01.19 FORMIT TECH

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a reinforced, resistant technical textile with flexibility characteristics that allow it to take on any type of shape while supporting high loads. The invention also relates to the textile product obtained by implementing the method according to the invention. The method according to the invention comprises the successive steps in which a strip of textile support is positioned on a workbench, then adhesive is applied to the entire visible surface of the textile support, then a metal foil is positioned on the pre-glued textile strip, then a heat source is applied at a temperature between 110 and 140 degrees Celsius, then hot pressure is applied for at least 5 seconds, then the resulting product is wound onto a mandrel, and finally the wound product is stored in a cold drying area at a temperature of approximately 37 degrees.The process and the resulting product are more specifically intended for the fields of furniture, decoration, events and scenography.