Methods for dispensing and adhering hot melt entrained polymers to substrates

• Main Authors: Lucas, Jr., Franklin Lee, Freedman, Jonathan R, Peters, Gary
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 30.08.2022
• Subjects: ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; APPLYING LIQUIDS OR OTHER FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS,e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES,DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; CONVEYING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULARARTICLES; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS; LAYERED PRODUCTS; LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT ORNON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM; METALLURGY; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; PACKAGES; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PROCESSES FOR APPLYING LIQUIDS OR OTHER FLUENT MATERIALS TOSURFACES, IN GENERAL; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; STORING; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

Disclosed are methods for forming and adhering an entrained polymer structure to a substrate. The methods include providing a substrate (114) configured to receive application of a molten entrained polymer (118). A mineral entrained polymer in molten form is applied in a predetermined shape, to a surface of the substrate, to form a solidified entrained polymer structure on the substrate. The entrained polymer includes a monolithic material formed of at least a base polymer (25) and a mineral active agent (30) to absorb excess moisture. The surface of the substrate is compatible with the molten entrained polymer so as to thermally bond with it. In this way, the entrained polymer bonds to the substrate and solidifies upon sufficient cooling of the entrained polymer. The polymer can have a channeling or foaming agent (35), eg polyglycol. To apply the polymer is provided a hot melt dispensing apparatus comprising: a feeder (102) (optionally an extruder or loader) for providing a flow of mineral entrained polymer in molten form; one or more hoses (104), each of which having an internal lumen in fluid communication with an exit (106) of the feeder to receive flow of the mineral entrained polymer in molten form, the lumen terminating at an applicator (110) to which the entrained polymer in molten form is conveyed; the applicator comprising a dispenser (112) for applying the entrained polymer in the predetermined shape to the surface of the substrate. The hose and the dispenser can be heated.