Water-based adhesive for zero-waste economy

这项提议的目的是使用廉价、可扩展和环保的商品材料创建一种水基可逆胶粘剂。这项研究的目标影响是一种商业上成功的粘合剂，它有广泛的应用，特别是在回收很重要的领域，如瓶子标签。其他领域，如汽车零部件和电子废物管理，也将受益于支持一种环境方法的设计，即在第一个生命周期结束时，可以拆卸产品，重新调整零部件的用途。这项技术还可以作为一种简单的水基粘合剂来取代其他基于挥发性有机化合物的胶水。前提很简单：涂有正电荷聚合物的表面可以附着在涂有负电荷聚合物的表面上。它们会粘在水中，即使在接触干燥后也会保持粘连。改变局部pH会改变聚电解质上的电荷，因此，在酸性pH下，多酸将变为中性。多聚碱基将保持带电状态，粘合失败。以前的可逆粘合演示需要最终用户进行大量的化学操作。在这里，我们提出了一种基于标准聚合工艺的可逆粘合的简单方法。要粘贴的表面将由单独的层覆盖并连接在一起。粘附性预计是瞬间和持久的。与其他水性粘合剂不同，暴露在潮湿环境中不会损害接头。使用酸洗或碱性洗涤来分离这两种成分。一种快速和有效的脱离方法需要大量的研究，并构成这一提议的很大部分。此外，还将探索将聚电解质喷涂到表面作为一种简单的粘接方法，以满足有限的应用范围。该技术将在与合作伙伴公司的合作中进行验证。

The purpose of this proposal is to create a water-based reversible adhesive using commodity materials that is inexpensive, scalable, and environmentally friendly. The target impact of this research is a commercially successful adhesive that has widespread applications, particularly in areas where recycling is important, such as bottle labelling. Other areas, such as automotive parts and e-waste management, would also benefit by supporting a design for an environment approach in which, at the end of the first life cycle, products can be dismantled, and parts repurposed. The technology can also function as a simple water-based adhesive to replace other glues based on volatile organic compounds. The premise is simple: a surface coated with a positively charged polymer can adhere to one coated with a negatively charged polymer. These will stick in water and remain adhered even after the contact has dried. Changing the local pH changes the charge on the polyelectrolytes so that, in an acid pH, the polyacid will become neutral. The polybase will remain charged and the adhesion fails. Previous demonstrations of reversible adhesion have required the end-user to perform significant chemistry. Here we are proposing a simple route to reversible adhesion based on a standard polymerization process. The surfaces to be adhered would each be coated by separate layers and joined. Adhesion is expected to be instantaneous and durable. Unlike other water-based adhesives, exposure to moisture would not compromise the joint. An acid or alkaline wash would be used to separate the two components. A rapid and effective means of disjoining requires significant research and forms a large part of this proposal. In addition, the spray coating of polyelectrolytes onto surfaces will also be explored as a simple route to adhesion for a limited range of applications. The technology will be validated in collaboration with partner companies.