Thioester Adhesive Apparel Disassembly via pH

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Solution Overview

Problem

The apparel industry faces challenges in recycling clothing due to the difficulty in separating mixed materials joined by permanent methods like sewing, which makes recycling time-consuming and costly, and there is a need for apparel products that can be easily assembled and disassembled for efficient recycling.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a reversible adhesive with thioester bonds that can be broken by exposure to acidic or basic pH, allowing for the separation of major and minor components of apparel products, enabling efficient disassembly and recycling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If components are joined by permanent methods like sewing, then the apparel product maintains structural integrity and durability, but the components become difficult to separate for recycling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidease of separation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive's bonding properties are changed by altering its chemical state through pH exposure. The adhesive transitions from a bonded state at neutral pH to a debonded state when exposed to acidic or basic pH conditions, enabling separation of components for recycling while maintaining structural integrity during normal use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of substance

If manual separation of components is used, then material integrity is maintained, but the process is time-consuming and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial integrityVSAvoidseparation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical process of manual separation is replaced by a chemical process involving pH-induced debonding of the adhesive. This substitution enables automated separation processes that are both faster and more efficient while maintaining material integrity through controlled chemical degradation of the adhesive rather than mechanical force on the materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The chemical parameter of pH is used to trigger the debonding process. By changing the pH environment from neutral to acidic or basic conditions, the adhesive's bonding strength is reduced, allowing components to separate automatically without time-consuming manual intervention while preserving material quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If traditional adhesives are used, then strong bonding is achieved, but the adhesive cannot be deactivated for component separation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebonding strengthVSAvoidreversibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive incorporates pH-responsive functional groups that allow its bonding strength to be modulated by changing the pH parameter. At neutral pH, the adhesive maintains strong bonding through intact thioester bonds. When exposed to acidic or basic conditions, the thioester bonds undergo hydrolysis or exchange reactions, reducing bonding strength and enabling separation, thus providing both strong bonding and reversibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive is designed as a composite material containing thioester-functionalized polymers that combine the properties of strong adhesion with pH-responsive debonding capability. This composite structure integrates both the bonding function and the reversible property within a single adhesive system, eliminating the need for separate bonding and release mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

This method allows for the efficient disassembly of apparel products, facilitating the separation and recycling of materials, reducing costs and time associated with manual separation, and enabling large-scale streamlined recycling processes.

Implementation Method 1

The composition breaks the thioester bond of the adhesive

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 2

applying a centrifugal force to the plurality of apparel products in the solution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 3

suspending the major and minor components in a fluid and sorting the major and minor components based on buoyancy with the fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS11713405B1Methods of disassembling apparel products having thioester adhesives

Publication Date: 2023.08.01 CREATEME TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

Embodiments provide methods for disassembling an apparel product. The methods include exposing an adhesive of the apparel product to a composition having an acidic or basic pH. The adhesive is disposed at least partially between a major component and a minor component of the apparel product. The adhesive includes a material having a thioester bond. The major component forms a base portion of the apparel product and is configured to be supported and worn at least partially over a portion of a wearer. The minor component forms a secondary portion configured to be coupled to the major component with the adhesive. The methods include separating the major component from the minor component adjoined by the adhesive.