Back to results
US 8,685,528 B2Granted
Shape memory polymer and adhesive combination and methods of making and using the same
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsTao Xie, Joseph A. Hulway, Xingcheng Xiao
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One exemplary embodiment includes a thermo-reversible polymer adhesive including a dry adhesive layer and shape memory polymer layer, the shape memory polymer material capable of transitioning from a first shape to a second shape upon heating and imposition of a load to conform to the surface topography of a substrate to which the adhesive is applied.
Claims20
A product comprising:
- a thermo-reversible dry adhesive comprising:
- a dry adhesive layer and;
- an adhesive backing layer comprising a shape memory polymer having a glass transition temperature connected or attached to the dry adhesive layer, said backing layer including a first surface adjacent the dry adhesive layer capable of conforming to the surface topography of a first substrate to which the adhesive layer is applied and thereby forming a first shape conforming to said surface topography at a first temperature that is below the glass transition temperature;
- wherein the thermo-reversible dry adhesive is constructed and arranged to change to a second shape at a second temperature that is above the glass transition temperature without the application of a load, the second shape being conducive to removing the thermo-reversible dry adhesive from the first substrate at temperatures that are above and below the glass transition temperature;
- and
- wherein the dry adhesive comprises a soft dry adhesive having a glass transition temperature between −90° C. and 200° C. and said shape memory polymer has a glass transition temperature between 25° C. and 90° C.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing a thermo-reversible dry adhesive comprising at least one dry adhesive layer and at least one adhesive backing layer comprising a shape memory polymer layer;
- providing a substrate to be adhered to said dry adhesive, wherein said thermo-reversible dry adhesive is constructed and configured to have an original shape different from the corresponding topography of the substrate;
- heating the thermo-reversible dry adhesive to a temperature higher than a glass transition temperature of the shape memory polymer layer;
- imposing a load on the thermo-reversible dry adhesive while cooling to a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the shape memory polymer layer, so that the dry adhesive layer substantially conforms to the corresponding topography of the underlying substrate to form a strong adhesive bond to the underlying substrate;
- and
- heating the thermo-reversible dry adhesive to a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the shape memory polymer without load to cause the shape memory polymer to revert to its original shape, thereby causing the dry adhesive layer to at least partially peel off from the substrate or to have reduced pull-off force from the substrate at a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the shape memory polymer.
3 more elements
A product comprising:
- an adhesive layer comprising a reaction product of a first mixture comprising a flexible epoxy comprising an aliphatic epoxy having at least two epoxide groups and a crosslinking agent;
- and
- an adhesive backing layer comprising a shape memory polymer produced from a second mixture comprising a rigid epoxy comprising an aromatic epoxy having at least two epoxide groups, a flexible epoxy comprising an aliphatic epoxy having at least two epoxide groups, and a crosslinking agent,
- wherein said adhesive layer is attached to at least a portion of said backing layer and the glass transition temperature of the shape memory polymer is between 25° C. and 200° C.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.