UV Curing Adhesive Tape Water Basin Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing adhesive tape using UV polymerizable acrylate monomers are inefficient due to the need for inert gas chambers to prevent oxygen exposure, which increases costs and complexity, and the generation of heat during polymerization that can damage temperature-sensitive carriers.

Innovation Solution

The process involves a dry channel with a water basin filled with water and a radiation source, where the carrier is led through the water basin, allowing direct contact between the adhesive and water during radiation, effectively cooling the adhesive and reducing the need for inert gas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If UV polymerization is conducted in an inert gas chamber to prevent oxygen exposure, then polymerization proceeds effectively, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolymerization effectivenessVSAvoidchamber sealing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the oxygen exclusion function from the inert gas chamber and transfers it to the water medium. The water physically excludes oxygen from the adhesive compound during polymerization, eliminating the need for complex inert gas chamber sealing while maintaining effective polymerization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical state of the polymerization environment from gaseous (inert gas atmosphere) to liquid (water immersion). This parameter change fundamentally alters how oxygen exclusion is achieved, using water's physical properties instead of requiring sealed chambers and inert gas flow systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Temperature

If cooling surfaces are added to dissipate polymerization heat, then temperature control improves, but friction during substrate transport increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive temperature controlVSAvoidsubstrate transport smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses water (liquid) as the cooling medium instead of solid cooling surfaces. The adhesive compound is immersed in or contacted with water during polymerization, allowing heat dissipation through the liquid medium without introducing additional solid contact surfaces that would increase friction during transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the cooling function with the polymerization environment itself. The water medium serves dual purposes: it provides the oxygen-exclusion environment needed for polymerization and simultaneously acts as the cooling agent to dissipate reaction heat, eliminating the need for separate cooling surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If process liners are used to protect temperature-sensitive substrates, then substrate damage is prevented, but production costs and process complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubstrate thermal protectionVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the harmful heat generated during polymerization into a beneficial cooling process. By immersing the adhesive compound in water during polymerization, the reaction heat is immediately dissipated to the water medium, maintaining the substrate at safe temperatures without requiring additional protective liners.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The water medium performs multiple functions simultaneously: it excludes oxygen during polymerization, dissipates reaction heat through convection and conduction, and eliminates the need for separate process liners. This multi-functionality reduces both cost and process complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 efficiently cools the adhesive tape during polymerization, allowing the use of temperature-sensitive carriers and reducing production costs by eliminating the need for inert gas and additional cooling surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

the radiation from the radiation source is transmitted through the water in the water basin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUV radiation transmission: Light

Implementation Method 2

the heat generated during polymerization is dissipated by the water. Due to its direct contact with the adhesive compound and its high heat capacity, the water efficiently removes heat from the adhesive compound

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer through direct contact: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

The adhesive compound is exposed to UV radiation, which leads to polymerization of the acrylate monomers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotopolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentEP4477722B1Method for producing a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape with a polymer-based pressure-sensitive adhesive layer
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 ASTORPLAST KLEBETECHNIK GMBH
  • EP4477722B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for producing an adhesive tape, comprising the following steps: providing an adhesive compound (4) comprising monomers polymerizable by electromagnetic radiation and a photoinitiator; providing a tape-shaped carrier (3) with a top (3a) and a bottom (3b); applying the adhesive compound (4) to at least the top (3a) of the carrier (3); and transporting the carrier (3) with the applied adhesive compound (4) through a drying tunnel (30) in which the applied adhesive compound (4) is exposed to electromagnetic radiation and polymerizes.The invention is characterized in that the drying channel (30) comprises a main section (32) which has a water basin (38) filled with water (39) and at least one radiation source (43), wherein the carrier (3) is guided through the water basin so that the adhesive compound (4) applied to the top (3a) of the carrier (3) has direct contact with the water (39), and wherein the radiation from the radiation source (43) is transmitted through the water (39) in the water basin (38).