Thermoplastic Pipe Adhesion Layer Welding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pipes and semi-finished pipes for chemical apparatus construction, with a multi-layer structure, face issues of delamination between the thermoplastic inner layer and the adhesion-promoting textile layer, leading to mechanical instability and limited recyclability due to the use of glass fiber fabrics.

Innovation Solution

Both the inner pipe and the adhesion-promoting layer are made of fusible thermoplastics, with a lower viscosity outer layer allowing for controlled melting and welding, ensuring a strong material bond while preserving the textile structure and enhancing delamination resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the outside of the inner pipe is heated and the adhesion-promoting layer is applied to the softened outside, then the textile structure is embedded in the thermoplastic inner pipe forming a form fit, but delamination effects occur easily depending on material pairing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of applicationVSAvoiddelamination resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter of the adhesion-promoting layer from traditional textile structures to a thermoplastic material with specific flow behavior. This parameter change allows the material to flow into the outer layer during heating and then solidify to create a strong bond, resolving the delamination issue while maintaining ease of application through the same heating process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite structure where the adhesion-promoting layer is made of a thermoplastic material that combines the properties of chemical resistance with adhesive capability. This composite approach integrates multiple functions (adhesion, chemical resistance, and structural support) into a single material layer, eliminating the delamination problem between separate material layers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If glass fiber fabric is used for the adhesion-promoting layer and heated above the melting point to fuse plastics, then durable high-strength pipes are achieved, but recyclability is severely limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepipe strengthVSAvoidrecyclability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a homogeneous thermoplastic material for the adhesion-promoting layer that is chemically identical or compatible with the inner and outer pipe layers. This homogeneity allows the entire pipe structure to be melted and reprocessed together as a single material system, enabling full recyclability while maintaining the necessary strength through proper material selection and processing parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

Solution Approach 2:

The invention enables the recovery and reuse of the entire pipe material including the adhesion-promoting layer through melting and reprocessing. Instead of discarding the pipe as waste or separating components, the thermoplastic nature of all layers allows the material to be recovered, melted down, and reformulated into new pipe products, creating a closed-loop recycling system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Force

If the plasticized part of the inner pipe does not penetrate deep enough into the textile structure, then the adhesion-promoting layer can easily detach at the border, but deeper penetration may compromise the textile structure integrity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesion forceVSAvoidtextile structure integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the adhesion-promoting layer from a textile structure to a thermoplastic material with controlled viscosity and flow characteristics. This parameter change allows the material to penetrate the outer layer by a controlled amount during the heating process, creating strong adhesion through material intermingling while maintaining the structural integrity of the outer layer through proper parameter control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 method significantly improves delamination resistance and allows for better recyclability by creating a strong, mechanically stable bond between the inner and outer layers, preventing detachment and maintaining the textile structure for support.

Implementation Method 1

the outside of the inner pipe is heated above the melting point

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

the material of the adhesion-promoting layer is then applied to the melting zone on the outside of the inner pipe

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 3

Both the inner pipe and the adhesion-promoting layer are made of fusible thermoplastics... both the material of the inner pipe and the material of the adhesion-promoting layer are partially melted... and welded to one another with a material bond

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Data Source

PatentEP2707132B1Method for producing a tube or semifinished tube and tube or semifinished tube for chemical apparatus construction
Publication Date: 2018.06.13 SIMONA AG
  • EP2707132B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2707132B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2707132B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a tube (01) or semifinished tube (02), in particular for chemical apparatus construction, for storing or transporting aggressive media to be stored, comprising a solid inner tube (02), on the inner side (05) of which the medium to be stored can come into contact and which is produced from a thermoplastic material that is chemically resistant to the media to be stored, and comprising an adhesion promoting layer (03), which is provided on the outer side of the inner tube (02), has a textile structure and is produced from a thermoplastic material, wherein the textile structure of the adhesion promoting layer (03) is suitable for attaching a supporting tube (04) to the outer side of the adhesion promoting layer (03), wherein the outer side of the inner tube (02) and the inner side of the adhesion promoting layer (03) are welded to each other with a material bond, and wherein the textile structure is retained on the outer side of the adhesion promoting layer (03).