Patent Publication Number: US-2007095011-A1

Title: Fiberglass splicing method

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a splicing method. More particularly, the invention relates to a method for splicing fiberglass, polyester or combinations thereof and which eliminates waste, reduces splicing time and improves the mechanical properties of the resultant mat.  
     BACKGROUND  
      Currently, a hot melt tape is used to splice reinforcement panels together. This method, however, is ineffective and wasteful since much of the coated material must be discarded. Other methods of splicing reinforcement together require the overlap of one end of a first reinforcement panel on the end of the reinforcement panel that is being spliced with. This method is also wasteful and does not permit utilization of the entire length of the reinforcement panel since part of one reinforcement panel receives the overlapping portion of the other panel.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention provides a splicing method comprising the steps of: aligning facing ends of two reinforcement panels; securing said reinforcement panels to reduce movement or shifting; applying adhesive on said facing ends of said two reinforcement panels; butting together said facing ends of said two reinforcement panels; and applying an ultraviolet source to the adhesive.  
      The invention further provides a method for forming an adhered reinforcement panel comprising the steps of splicing method comprising the steps of: aligning facing ends of two reinforcement panels; securing said reinforcement panels to reduce movement or shifting; applying adhesive on said facing ends of said two reinforcement panels; butting together said facing ends of said two reinforcement panels; and applying an ultraviolet source to the adhesive.  
      The method of the present invention provides for precision bonding is faster and simpler thus rendering the splicing more efficient. Additionally, the method provides improved tensile strength and eliminates waste.  
      The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular device embodying the invention is shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      The method according to the present invention first requires the alignment of facing reinforcement panels. The facing panels are not overlapped, but are brought together in an end-to-end fashion and diametrically opposite one another. An adhesive is then applied on each of the facing ends of the panels. The ends with adhesive thereon are then brought together and cured by application of an ultraviolet light source to the adhesive. In order to prevent or diminish movement of the panels during curing, the panels may be secured by a restraining apparatus or clamp.  
      Reinforcement panels are typically roofing or waterproofing membranes that have been strengthened by the addition or incorporation of one or more reinforcing materials, including woven or nonwoven glass fibers, polyester mats or scrims, nylon, or polyethylene sheeting. The reinforcement panels in accordance with the present invention are advantageously fiberglass or polyester, although the invention is not intended to be limited in this respect. The panels which are adhered to each other and cured in accordance with the method of the invention may be of the same composition, different or combinations thereof. For example, the reinforcement panels being spliced together may both be polyester, or they may both be fiberglass. Additionally, one panel may be fiberglass and spliced to a polyester panel.  
      The adhesive used in accordance with the present invention may be any commercially available UV curable adhesive. Preferable UV curable adhesives include Loctite® 3494, 3491, 3492, 3525, 3526, but not are not limited thereto. The adhesive can be acrylic based esters with UV curing technology and may also can contain silicones and derivatives thereof. The adhesive may be applied by hand or may be dispensed through a series of nozzles or the syringes on to the ends of the reinforcements and allowed to cure under UV light when the reinforcements are brought together in butting configuration. The dispensation of adhesive is typically metered in accordance with predetermined and pre-set parameters.  
      The UV light source may be any commercially available ultraviolet source which can be quickly and easily applied to the adhesive. The UV light source may be low, medium or high intensity. In a preferred embodiment, the UV light source has a high intensity and is applied to the adhesive for 5-20 seconds. Depending on various factors such as the type of adhesive use, the duration of application of the UV light to the adhesive will vary. The UV light source may be low, medium or high intensity, with a high intensity source being preferable.  
      The method in accordance with the present invention increases the shear and tensile strength both in the machine and cross machine directions over the traditional hot melt approach. Comparative results are shown in the following chart:  
                                               Max Load   Tensile           Sample Type and ID   (lbf)   Strain (%)   Comments                                                Current Stocton Heat   33   1.5   Hot Pressed. The       Activated Tape           polyester backing                   does not saturate                   with asphalt.       Loctite ® Adhesive   54   3.4   Adhesive across the                   splice       Loctite ® Adhesive   66   3.7   More adhesive       Loctite ® Adhesive   40.4   2.5   Spaced with small                   amounts of adhesive                   applied as dots       Loctite ® Adhesive   34.4   2.3   Saw Tooth Less                   Adhesive       Loctite ® Adhesive   48.4   2.8   Saw Tooth More                   Adhesive                  
 
      While there has been shown and described what is considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail could readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be not limited to the exact forms described and illustrated, but should be constructed to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.