阅读说明：本技术 自粘性屋面膜 (Self-adhesive roofing membrane ) 是由 魏勤 魏益哲 维尔弗里德·卡尔 马库斯·豪费 于 2018-08-17 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种屋面膜(1),其包含防水层(2)、粘合剂层(3)和任选的隔离衬垫(4),其中所述粘合剂层(3)为丙烯酸系压敏粘合剂层。本发明还涉及完全粘附的屋顶系统。(The present invention relates to a roofing membrane (1) comprising a water barrier layer (2), an adhesive layer (3) and optionally a release liner (4), wherein the adhesive layer (3) is an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive layer. The invention also relates to a fully adhered roof system.)

1. Self-adhesive roofing membrane (1) comprising:

i. a waterproof layer (2) based on polyvinyl chloride, having a first and a second main surface,

an adhesive layer (3) coating and covering at least a portion of the second major surface of the water-repellent layer (2),

an optional release liner (4), characterized in that said adhesive layer is an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive.

2. Roofing membrane according to claim 1, characterized in that said adhesive layer (3) covers substantially the entire area of the second main surface of the waterproofing layer (2).

3. The roofing membrane according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the adhesive layer (3) comprises at least 85 wt.%, preferably at least 90 wt.%, of at least one acrylic polymer, based on the total weight of the adhesive layer.

4. The roofing membrane according to claim 3, characterized in that said at least one acrylic polymer has a glass transition temperature (T) lower than 0 ℃, preferably lower than-20 ℃_g) The glass transition temperature (T)_g) Measured by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) using an applied frequency of 1Hz and a strain level of 0.1%.

5. The roofing membrane according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive layer (3) has a thickness of 25-500 μm, preferably 50-250 μm, as determined by using the measurement method defined in the DIN EN1849-2 standard.

6. The roofing membrane according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said waterproofing layer (2) comprises:

a)25-65 wt.% of a polyvinyl chloride resin,

b)15 to 50 wt.% of at least one plasticizer, and

c)0-30 wt.% of at least one inert mineral filler, all proportions being based on the total weight of the waterproofing layer (2).

7. Roofing membrane according to claim 6, characterized in that the waterproofing layer composition has a glass transition temperature (T) below-20 ℃, preferably below-25 ℃_g) The glass transition temperature (T)_g) Measured by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) using an applied frequency of 1Hz and a strain level of 0.1%.

8. The roofing membrane according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said at least one plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of linear and branched phthalates, trimellitate plasticizers, adipic polyesters and biochemical plasticizers.

9. The roofing membrane according to any of the claims 6-8, characterized in that said at least one inert mineral filler is selected from the group consisting of sand, granite, calcium carbonate, clay, expanded clay, diatomaceous earth, pumice, mica, kaolin, talc, dolomite, xonotlite, perlite, vermiculite, wollastonite, barite, magnesium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, calcium aluminate, silica, fumed silica, fused silica, aerogels, glass beads, hollow glass spheres, ceramic spheres, bauxite, crushed concrete and zeolite.

10. The roofing membrane according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said waterproofing layer (2) has a thickness of 0.5 to 5.0mm, preferably 1.0 to 2.5mm, said thickness being determined by using the measurement method defined in the DIN EN1849-2 standard.

11. The roofing membrane according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a layer of fibrous material (5) completely embedded in the waterproofing layer (2).

12. Roofing membrane according to claim 11, characterized in that the layer of fibrous material (5) has a mass per unit area of 15-150g/m²Preferably 25 to 100g/m²The nonwoven fabric of (1).

13. Roofing membrane according to claim 12, characterized in that the nonwoven comprises inorganic fibers, preferably glass fibers.

14. The roofing membrane according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a release liner (4) covering at least a portion of the outer main surface of the adhesive layer (3) facing away from the second main surface of the waterproofing layer (2).

15. A fully adhered roof system comprising a roof substrate (6) and a roofing membrane (1) according to any of claims 1-14 adhered directly to the surface of the roof substrate (6) by an adhesive layer (3).

16. The fully adhered roofing system according to claim 15, characterized in that the roofing substrate (6) is selected from the group consisting of insulation panels, cover panels and existing roofing membranes.

17. Fully adhered roof system according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that at least 50%, preferably at least 75%, most preferably at least 85% of the entire area of the second main surface of the water-repellent layer (2) is bonded to the surface of the roof substrate (6) by the adhesive layer (3).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of waterproofing of above ground building structures by using self-adhesive roofing membranes. In particular, the present invention relates to a self-adhesive roofing membrane that can be used to provide a fully adhered roofing system.

Background

In the construction field, polymer sheets, commonly referred to as membranes, panels or sheets, are used to protect underground and above ground structures, such as basements, tunnels and flat and low sloping roofs, from water penetration. For example, waterproofing membranes are applied to prevent water intrusion through cracks that are generated in concrete structures due to building settlement, load deflection, or concrete shrinkage. Roofing membranes for waterproofing flat and low-pitched roof structures are typically provided as single-layer or multi-layer membrane systems. In a single layer system, the roof substrate is covered with a roofing membrane consisting of a single waterproof layer. In this case, the waterproofing layer usually contains a reinforcement layer to increase the mechanical stability of the roofing membrane. In multilayer membrane systems, roofing membranes are used which contain multiple water barriers of similar or different composition. Compared to multilayer films, monolayer films have the advantage of reducing production costs, but they are also less resistant to mechanical damage caused by penetration by sharp objects.

Common materials for roofing membranes include plastics, particularly thermoplastics, such as plasticized polyvinyl chloride (p-PVC), thermoplastic olefins (TPE-O, TPO), and elastomers such as ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM). The roofing membrane is typically delivered to the construction site in roll form, transferred to the installation site, unrolled and adhered to the substrate to be waterproofed. The substrate on which the roofing membrane is adhered can be constructed from a variety of materials. The substrate may be, for example, concrete, metal or wood decking, or it may comprise insulating or cover sheets (covers) and/or existing films.

The roofing membrane must be securely fastened to the roof substrate to provide sufficient mechanical strength to resist shear forces applied thereto due to high wind loads. Roofing systems are generally classified into two categories depending on the means used to secure the roofing membrane to the roofing substrate. In mechanically linked roofing systems, the roofing membrane is secured to the roofing substrate using screws and/or hooked plates. Mechanical fastening enables a high strength bond, but it provides a direct connection to the roof substrate only at the locations where the mechanical fasteners secure the membrane to the surface, which makes the mechanically connected membrane prone to flutter. In fully adhered roof systems, an adhesive composition is typically used to indirectly adhere the membrane to the roof substrate.

The roofing membrane can be adhered to the roofing substrate using a variety of techniques, including contact bonding and the use of self-adhesive membranes. In contact bonding, the surfaces of the membrane and the roof substrate are first coated with a solvent or water-based contact adhesive, and then the membrane is brought into contact with the substrate surface. The volatile components of the contact adhesive are "flashed off" to provide a partially dried adhesive film prior to contacting the film with the substrate. Fully adhered roofing systems can also be prepared by using a self-adhesive roofing membrane having a pre-applied layer of adhesive composition coated on one of the outer surfaces of the membrane. Typically, the pre-applied adhesive layer is covered with a release liner to prevent premature undesired adhesion and to protect the adhesive layer from moisture, dirt, and other environmental factors. In use, the release liner is removed and the roofing membrane is secured to the substrate without the use of additional adhesive. Roofing membranes having a pre-applied adhesive layer covered by a release liner are also known as "release liners".

To create a continuous waterproof seal on the surface of the roof substrate, the edges of adjacent roofing membranes overlap to form a sealable joint. These joints can then be sealed by bonding the bottom surface of the overlapping edge to the top surface of the other overlapping edge or by using a sealing tape that bridges the gap between the top surfaces of the two overlapping edges. The choice of technique for bonding the overlapping surfaces of adjacent membranes depends on the type of membrane. In the case of membranes made of thermoplastic or non-crosslinked elastomeric material, the overlapping portions of adjacent membranes can be joined to each other by thermal welding. In the case of self-adhesive films, the regions close to the longitudinal edges of the film are generally free of adhesive, so that the overlapping edges can be connected by thermal welding. The overlapping portions of adjacent films may also be adhered to each other by using an adhesive.

Prior art self-adhesive roofing membranes based on plasticized polyvinyl chloride (p-PVC) typically contain a migration barrier between the waterproofing layer and the adhesive layer to prevent migration of the plasticizer from the waterproofing layer into the adhesive layer. The presence of migration barriers increases the production cost of roofing membranes. Furthermore, in the case of fully adhered roof systems, the seam between the overlapping edges of adjacent membranes is still typically sealed by heat welding or by using special sealing tapes, both of which increase installation time and ultimately installation costs.

Thus, there remains a need for a self-adhesive roofing membrane that can be produced at a lower cost than prior art self-adhesive roofing membranes and that can provide a fully adhered roofing system while reducing installation time and cost.

Summary of The Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a self-adhesive roofing membrane which can be used to seal a roof substrate against water penetration.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a self-adhesive roofing membrane that can be used to provide a fully adhered roofing system in which the seams between overlapping edges of adjacent roofing membranes are adhesively bonded to each other.

The subject of the invention is a roofing membrane as defined in claim 1.

It has surprisingly been found that roofing membranes comprising a polyvinyl chloride based waterproofing layer and an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive layer coated on the surface thereof, which roofing membrane does not contain a migration barrier between the waterproofing layer and the adhesive layer, can solve or at least alleviate the problems of prior art polyvinyl chloride based self-adhesive roofing membranes.

One advantage of the roofing membrane of the invention is that it can provide a fully adherent roofing system at lower production and installation costs compared to prior art solutions.

Another advantage of the roofing membrane of the invention is that it can provide a fully adhered roofing system in which the seams between overlapping edges of adjacent roofing membranes are adhesively bonded to each other using the same adhesive used to bond the roofing membranes to the surface of the roof substrate.

Other aspects of the invention are presented in the other independent claims. Preferred aspects of the invention are presented in the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 shows a cross-section of a roofing membrane (1) comprising a water-proof layer (2), an adhesive layer (3) and a release liner (4) covering the outer major surface of the adhesive layer (3).

Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of a roofing membrane (1) comprising a waterproof layer (2), an adhesive layer (3), a release liner (4) covering the outer main surface of the adhesive layer (3) and a layer of fibrous material (5) completely embedded in the waterproof layer (2).

Fig. 3 shows a cross-section of a fully adhered roof system comprising a roof substrate (6) and a roofing membrane (1), said roofing membrane (1) comprising a waterproof layer (2), an adhesive sealing layer (3) and a layer of fibrous material (5) fully embedded in the waterproof layer (2), wherein said roofing membrane is directly bonded to the surface of the roof substrate (6) by the adhesive layer (3).

Detailed Description

The subject of the invention is a self-adhesive roofing membrane (1) comprising:

i. a polyvinyl chloride based waterproofing layer (2) having a first and a second main surface,

an adhesive layer (3) coating and covering at least a portion of the second major surface of the water-repellent layer (2), and

an optional release liner (4), wherein the adhesive layer is an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive layer.

The names of substances beginning with "poly" denote substances that formally contain two or more functional groups per molecule present in their name. For example, a polyol refers to a compound having at least two hydroxyl groups. Polyether refers to a compound having at least two ether groups.

The term "polymer" refers to a collection of chemically uniform macromolecules resulting from polymerization reactions (polyaddition, polycondensation), wherein the macromolecules differ in their degree of polymerization, molecular weight and chain length. The term also includes derivatives of said collection of macromolecules resulting from the polymerization reaction, i.e. compounds obtained by reaction (e.g. addition or substitution) of functional groups in a predetermined macromolecule, and which may be chemically homogeneous or chemically heterogeneous.

The term "(meth) acrylic" refers to both methacrylic and acrylic. Accordingly, (meth) acryloyl represents methacryloyl or acryloyl. The (meth) acryloyl group is also referred to as a (meth) acryloyl group. The (meth) acrylic compound may have one or more (meth) acryloyl groups, such as mono-, di-, tri-, etc. functional (meth) acrylic compounds.

The term "molecular weight" refers to the molar mass (g/mol) of a molecule or a portion of a molecule (also referred to as a "moiety"). The term "average molecular weight" refers to the number average molecular weight (M) of a molecular or partially oligomeric or polymeric mixture_n). Molecular weight can be determined by gel permeation chromatography.

The term "softening point" refers to the temperature at which the compound softens to the rubbery state, or the temperature at which crystalline portions of the compound melt. The softening point can be determined by ring and ball measurements according to the DIN EN 1238 standard.

The term "melting temperature" refers to the crystalline melting point (T.sub.m) as determined by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) using the method defined in the ISO 11357 standard using a heating rate of 2 deg.C/min_m). Measurements can be made using a Mettler Toledo DSC 3+ device, and T can be determined from the measured DSC curve with the aid of DSC software_mThe value is obtained.

The term "glass transition temperature" (T)_g) Meaning that the polymer component becomes soft and pliable above that temperature and becomes hard and glassy below that temperature. The glass transition temperature is preferably determined by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) as the peak of the loss modulus (G ") curve measured using an applied frequency of 1Hz and a strain level of 0.1%.

The "amount or content of at least one component X" in the composition, for example "amount of at least one thermoplastic polymer" means the sum of the individual amounts of all thermoplastic polymers contained in the composition. Furthermore, in case the composition comprises 20 wt.% of at least one thermoplastic polymer, the total amount of all thermoplastic polymers comprised in the composition is equal to 20 wt.%.

The term "room temperature" means a temperature of 23 ℃.

The polyvinyl chloride based waterproofing layer is preferably a sheet-like element having first and second major surfaces, i.e. a top surface and a bottom surface.

The term "sheet-like element" refers herein to an element having a length and width of at least 25 times, preferably at least 50 times, more preferably at least 150 times the thickness of the element.

An adhesive layer is coated on the second major surface of the water repellent layer. Preferably, the water-repellent layer and the adhesive layer are directly connected to each other on their opposite surfaces. The expression "directly connected" is understood to mean that, in the context of the present invention, no further layers or substances are present between the layers and the opposite surfaces of the layers are directly bonded to each other or adhere to each other. In the transition region between the two layers, the materials of the layers can also be present mixed with one another. In other words, there is no migration barrier between the water barrier layer and the adhesive layer.

Preferably, the adhesive layer covers at least 50%, more preferably at least 65%, most preferably at least 75% of the second major surface area of the water-repellent layer. According to one or more embodiments, the adhesive layer and the waterproofing layer have substantially the same width and length and/or the adhesive layer covers substantially the entire area of the second major surface of the waterproofing layer. The term "substantially the entire area" is understood to mean at least 85%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 92%, most preferably at least 95% of the second major surface area of the water barrier. Furthermore, it may also be preferred that the narrow section of the second main surface of the water barrier, which is close to the longitudinal edges and has a width of 1-2mm, is free of adhesive layer, for example for production technical reasons.

The adhesive layer is an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive layer. In the present disclosure, the term "Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA)" means an adhesive composition that adheres instantaneously to most substrates by the application of light pressure and remains permanently tacky. The term "acrylic adhesive" in the present disclosure means an adhesive composition containing one or more acrylic polymers as the main polymer component.

Preferably, the acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive is a water-based acrylic dispersion pressure sensitive adhesive or a solvent-based acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive.

The term "water-based acrylic dispersion adhesive" in the present disclosure means an adhesive composition comprising one or more acrylic polymers, which has been formulated as an aqueous dispersion or aqueous colloidal suspension. The term "water-based dispersion adhesive" refers to a dispersion adhesive that contains water as the major continuous (carrier) phase.

The term "solvent-based acrylic adhesive" in the present disclosure means an adhesive composition comprising a solvent and one or more acrylic polymers, which is substantially completely dissolved in the solvent. Typically, the solvent constitutes at least 20 wt.%, preferably at least 30 wt.%, most preferably at least 40 wt.% of the total weight of the adhesive composition. Suitable solvents for solvent-based acrylic adhesives include, for example, alcohols, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones, esters, and mixtures thereof. Only a single solvent or a mixture of two or more solvents may be used. Suitable solvent-based acrylic adhesives are substantially free of water, e.g., those that contain less than 10 wt.%, preferably less than 5 wt.%, more preferably less than 1 wt.% water, based on the total weight of the adhesive composition.

The term "acrylic polymer" in this disclosure denotes homopolymers, copolymers and higher interpolymers of acrylic monomers with one or more other acrylic monomers and/or with one or more other ethylenically unsaturated monomers. The term "acrylic monomer" refers in the present disclosure to a monomer having at least one (meth) acryloyl group in the molecule. Examples of the acrylic monomer include, for example, (meth) acrylic acid esters, (meth) acrylic acid or derivatives thereof, such as amides of (meth) acrylic acid or nitriles of (meth) acrylic acid, and (meth) acrylic acid esters having a functional group such as hydroxyalkyl (meth) acrylates, and hydroxyl group-containing (meth) acrylic acid esters. Preferably, the acrylic polymer contains acrylic monomers as the main monomer component, i.e. the acrylic polymer contains at least 30 wt.%, preferably at least 40 wt.%, more preferably at least 50 wt.% acrylic monomers.

Particularly suitable acrylic polymers contain as the main monomer component alkyl (meth) acrylates, preferably (meth) acrylates of alcohols containing 1 to 24 carbon atoms. In the acrylic polymer, preferably more than 25 wt.%, preferably more than 35 wt.% of these types of acrylic monomers. Examples of particularly suitable alkyl (meth) acrylates include, for example, methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, n-pentyl acrylate, n-hexyl acrylate, n-heptyl acrylate, n-octyl methacrylate, n-nonyl acrylate, lauryl acrylate, stearyl acrylate, behenyl acrylate and branched isomers thereof, such as isobutyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, isooctyl acrylate, isooctyl methacrylate, and cyclohexyl methacrylate, isobornyl acrylate, isobornyl methacrylate or 3, 5-dimethyladamantyl acrylate.

Suitable comonomers for use with the alkyl (meth) acrylates include in particular hydroxyl-and hydroxyalkyl-containing acrylic monomers. Examples of suitable hydroxyl-and hydroxyalkyl-containing acrylic monomers include, for example, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl (meth) acrylate, 3-hydroxypropyl (meth) acrylate, 2-hydroxybutyl (meth) acrylate, 4-hydroxybutyl (meth) acrylate, 2-hydroxyhexyl (meth) acrylate, 6-hydroxyhexyl (meth) acrylate, 8-hydroxyoctyl (meth) acrylate, 10-hydroxydecyl (meth) acrylate, 12-hydroxylauryl (meth) acrylate. Furthermore, (4-hydroxymethylcyclohexyl) methacrylate, polypropylene glycol mono (meth) acrylate, N-hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylamide and N-hydroxypropyl (meth) acrylamide are suitable. The hydroxyl-and hydroxyalkyl-containing acrylic monomers are preferably used in the range of 0.01 to 15 wt.%, more preferably 0.1 to 10 wt.%, based on the total amount of monomers used in the synthesis of the acrylic polymer.

Other suitable comonomers of the acrylic polymer include vinyl compounds, particularly vinyl esters, vinyl halides, vinylidene halides, ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbons having functional groups, and nitriles of ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbons examples of suitable vinyl compounds include, for example, maleic anhydride, styrene, styrenic compounds, β -acryloxypropionic acid, vinyl acetic acid, fumaric acid, crotonic acid, aconitic acid, trichloroacrylic acid, itaconic acid, and vinyl acetate.

According to one or more embodiments, the adhesive layer comprises at least 75 wt.%, preferably at least 85 wt.%, more preferably at least 90 wt.%, most preferably at least 95 wt.% of at least one acrylic polymer, based on the total weight of the adhesive layer.

Preferably, the at least one acrylic polymer has a glass transition temperature (T) lower than 0 ℃, preferably lower than-20 ℃_g) The glass transition temperature (T)_g) Measured by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), using an applied frequency of 1Hz and a strain level of 0.1%.

Preferably, the at least oneThe acrylate polymer has an average molecular weight (M) in the range of 50000-1000000g/mol, in particular 100000-750000g/mol, more preferably 150000-500000g/mol_n)。

In addition to the at least one acrylic polymer, the adhesive layer may comprise one or more additional ingredients including, for example, tackifying resins, waxes, and plasticizers, as well as one or more additives such as UV light absorbers, UV and heat stabilizers, optical brighteners, pigments, dyes, and drying agents. Preferably, the amount of additional ingredients and additives is not more than 15 wt.%, more preferably not more than 10 wt.%, most preferably not more than 5 wt.%, based on the total weight of the adhesive layer.

The preferred thickness of the adhesive layer depends on the detailed composition of the adhesive. According to one or more embodiments, the adhesive layer has a thickness of 25 to 500 μm, preferably 50 to 250 μm, more preferably 75 to 200 μm, determined by using the measurement method defined in the DIN EN1849-2 standard. Preferably, the second major surface of the water repellent layer is coated with a continuous layer of adhesive. The term "continuous layer" in the present disclosure refers to a layer consisting of one single area coated with adhesive, whereas a "discontinuous layer" is considered to consist of several separate areas coated with adhesive.

The detailed composition of the waterproof layer is not particularly limited. However, the composition of the waterproofing layer should be chosen such that the roofing membrane meets the general requirements for roofing membranes for providing fully adhered roofing systems, in particular the general requirements defined in DIN 20000-.

For example, it may be preferred to select the composition of the water barrier such that the roofing membrane exhibits an impact resistance in the range of 200-1500mm, measured according to the EN12691:2005 standard, and/or a longitudinal and transverse tensile strength of at least 5MPa, measured according to the DIN ISO 527-3 standard at a temperature of 23 ℃ and/or a longitudinal and transverse elongation at break of at least 300%, measured according to the DIN ISO 527-3 standard at a temperature of 23 ℃ and/or a water resistance of 0.6 bar at 24 hours, measured according to the EN 1928B standard and/or a maximum tear strength of at least 100N, measured according to the EN 12310-2 standard.

According to one or more embodiments, the water barrier comprises:

a)25-65 wt.%, preferably 30-60 wt.% of a polyvinyl chloride resin,

b)15-50 wt.%, preferably 20-40 wt.% of at least one plasticizer, and

c)0-30 wt.%, preferably 0-20 wt.%, of at least one inert mineral filler, all proportions based on the total weight of the water-repellent layer.

Preferably, the polyvinyl chloride resin has a K value of 50 to 85, more preferably 65 to 75, determined by using the method described in ISO 1628-2-1998 standard. The K value is a measure of the polymerization grade of the PVC resin and is determined by the viscosity value of the PVC homopolymer dissolved in cyclohexanone at 30 ℃ as the original resin.

Preferably, the composition of the water barrier has a glass transition temperature (T) of less than-20 deg.C, more preferably less than-25 deg.C_g) The glass transition temperature (T)_g) Measured by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), using an applied frequency of 1Hz and a strain level of 0.1%.

The type of the at least one plasticizer is not particularly limited in the present invention. Plasticizers suitable for PVC resins include, but are not limited to, for example, straight or branched chain phthalates such as diisononyl phthalate (DINP), dinonyl phthalate (L9P), diallyl phthalate (DAP), di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), dioctyl phthalate (DOP), diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP), and mixed linear phthalate (911P). Other suitable plasticizers include phthalate-free plasticizers such as trimellitate ester plasticizers, adipic acid polyesters, and biochemical plasticizers. Examples of biochemical plasticizers include epoxidized vegetable oils, such as epoxidized soybean oil and epoxidized linseed oil, and acetylated vegetable-derived waxes and oils, such as acetylated castor wax and acetylated castor oil.

Particularly suitable phthalate-free plasticizers for the water-repellent layer include alkyl esters of benzoic acid, dialkyl esters of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, polyesters of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids or aliphatic di-, tri-and tetraols whose end groups have not been esterified or have been esterified with monofunctional reagents, trialkyl citrates, acetylated trialkyl citrates, glycerol esters, benzoic acid diesters of mono-, di-, tri-or polyalkylene glycols, trimethylolpropane esters, dialkyl cyclohexanedicarboxylates, dialkyl esters of terephthalic acid, trialkyl trimellitates, triaryl esters of phosphoric acid, diaryl alkyl esters of phosphoric acid, trialkyl phosphates and aryl esters of alkanesulfonic acids.

According to one or more embodiments, the at least one plasticizer is chosen from phthalates, trimellitate plasticizers, adipic polyesters, and biochemical plasticizers.

The term "inert mineral filler" denotes herein a mineral filler, which, unlike mineral binders, is not reactive with water, i.e. does not undergo a hydration reaction in the presence of water. Preferably, the at least one inert mineral filler is selected from the group consisting of sand, granite, calcium carbonate, clay, expanded clay, diatomaceous earth, pumice, mica, kaolin, talc, dolomite, xonotlite, perlite, vermiculite, wollastonite, barite, magnesium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, calcium aluminate, silica, fumed silica, fused silica, aerogels, glass beads, hollow glass spheres, ceramic spheres, bauxite, crushed concrete and zeolites.

The term "sand" refers herein to mineral clastic deposits (clastic rocks) which are loose conglomerates (loose deposits) of round or angular small particles which are separated from the original particle structure during mechanical and chemical degradation and transported to their point of deposition, the SiO of the deposit being described₂The content is more than 50 wt.%, in particular more than 75 wt.%, particularly preferably more than 85 wt.%. The term "calcium carbonate" as inert mineral filler refers herein to calcite fillers produced from chalk, limestone or marble by grinding and/or precipitation.

According to one or more embodiments, the at least one mineral filler is present in the water-repellent layer in an amount of 5 to 30 wt.%, preferably 10 to 30 wt.%, more preferably 15 to 30 wt.%, based on the total weight of the water-repellent layer.

The water repellent layer may further comprise one or more additives such as UV and heat stabilizers, antioxidants, flame retardants, dyes, pigments such as titanium dioxide and carbon black, matting agents, antistatic agents, impact modifiers, biocides and processing aids such as lubricants, slip agents, anti-blocking agents and scale removers (forest aids).

The thickness of the waterproof layer is not particularly limited. According to one or more embodiments, the thickness of the water repellent layer is from 0.25 to 5.0mm, preferably from 0.5 to 4.5mm, more preferably from 1.0 to 3.0mm, most preferably from 1.0 to 2.5mm, said thickness being determined by using the measurement method defined in DIN EN1849-2 standard.

According to one or more embodiments, the roofing membrane further comprises a layer of fibrous material, which is completely embedded in the waterproofing layer. The expression "completely embedded" means that the layer of fibrous material is completely covered by the matrix of the water-repellent layer. The layer of fibrous material can be used to ensure the mechanical stability of the waterproofing layer when the roofing membrane is exposed to varying environmental conditions, in particular large temperature fluctuations.

The term "fibrous material" denotes herein a material consisting of fibers comprising or consisting of, for example, organic, inorganic or synthetic organic materials. Examples of organic fibers include, for example, cellulose fibers, cotton fibers, and protein fibers. Particularly suitable synthetic organic materials include, for example, polyesters, homopolymers and copolymers of ethylene and/or propylene, viscose (viscose), nylon and polyamides. Fibrous materials composed of inorganic fibers are also suitable, in particular those composed of metal fibers or mineral fibers, such as glass fibers, aramid fibers, wollastonite fibers and carbon fibers. Inorganic fibers which have been surface treated, for example with silanes, may also be suitable. The fibrous material may comprise short fibers, long fibers, short fibers (yarns) or filaments. The fibers may be oriented or drawn fibers. It may also be advantageous for the fibre material to consist of different types of fibres in terms of geometry and composition.

Preferably, the layer of fibrous material is selected from the group consisting of non-woven fabrics, warp-knitted fabrics and non-woven scrims (scrims).

The term "nonwoven" herein denotes a material consisting of fibers that are bonded together using chemical, mechanical or thermal bonding means and that are neither woven nor knitted. The nonwoven may be produced, for example, by using a carding or needling process, in which the fibers are mechanically entangled to obtain the nonwoven. In chemical bonding, a chemical binder, such as a binder material, is used to hold the fibers in the nonwoven.

The term "nonwoven scrim" means herein a web-like nonwoven product composed of yarns, which are placed on top of each other and chemically bonded to each other. Typical materials for nonwoven scrims include metals, fiberglass, and plastics, particularly polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

According to one or more embodiments, the layer of fibrous material is a nonwoven, preferably a nonwoven, more preferably having a mass per unit weight of not more than 250g/m²Preferably not more than 200g/m²The nonwoven fabric of (1). According to one or more embodiments, the layer of fibrous material has a mass per unit weight of between 15 and 150g/m²Preferably 20 to 125g/m²More preferably 25 to 100g/m²Most preferably 30-85g/m²The nonwoven fabric of (1).

Preferably, the nonwoven fabric of the layer of fibrous material comprises synthetic organic and/or inorganic fibers. Particularly suitable synthetic organic fibers for the nonwoven fabric include, for example, polyester fibers, polypropylene fibers, polyethylene fibers, nylon fibers, and polyamide fibers. Particularly suitable inorganic fibers for the nonwoven fabric include, for example, glass fibers, aramid fibers, wollastonite fibers, and carbon fibers.

According to one or more embodiments, the nonwoven fabric of the layer of fibrous material has synthetic organic fibers as the main fiber component, preferably selected from the group consisting of polyester fibers, polypropylene fibers, polyethylene fibers, nylon fibers and polyamide fibers. According to one or more other embodiments, the nonwoven fabric of the layer of fibrous material has inorganic fibers as the main fibrous component, preferably selected from glass fibers, aramid fibers, wollastonite fibers and carbon fibers, more preferably glass fibers.

According to one or more embodiments, the roofing membrane further comprises a release liner covering at least a portion of the outer major surface of the adhesive layer facing away from the second major surface of the water barrier layer. Preferably, the adhesive layer and the release liner are directly connected to each other on at least a portion of their opposing major surfaces. Release liners can be used to prevent premature undesired adhesion and to protect the adhesive layer from moisture, dirt, and other environmental factors. In the case where the roofing membrane is provided in roll form, the release liner allows for easy unrolling without sticking the adhesive to the back side of the roofing membrane. The release liner may be cut into multiple sections to allow the liner to be separated from the adhesive layer portions.

Suitable materials for the release liner include kraft papers, polyethylene coated papers, silicone coated papers, and polymeric films such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester films coated with a polymeric release agent selected from the group consisting of silicone, silicone urea, polyurethane, waxes, and long chain alkyl acrylate release agents.

The roofing membrane of the invention may be a single-ply or multi-ply roofing membrane. The term "single-layer roofing membrane" herein denotes a membrane comprising one single water barrier layer, whereas the term "multi-layer roofing membrane" denotes a membrane comprising more than one water barrier layer. In the case of a multi-layered roofing membrane, the waterproofing layer may have a similar or different composition.

Monolayer and multilayer films are known to those skilled in the art and they can be produced by any conventional method, for example by extrusion or coextrusion, calendering or by brushing. According to one or more embodiments, the roofing membrane is a single layer membrane comprising exactly one water barrier layer.

According to one or more further embodiments, the roofing membrane is a multilayer film comprising at least two water-repellent layers, preferably two water-repellent layers. In these embodiments, the roofing membrane further comprises a second water repellant layer having first and second major surfaces, wherein the second major surface of the second barrier layer is directly or indirectly bonded to at least a portion of the first major surface of the water repellant layer.

According to one or more embodiments, the second water barrier is a polyvinyl chloride based water barrier. Preferably, the second water barrier has a composition substantially similar to the water barrier. The second waterproof layer may further comprise a layer of fibrous material which is completely embedded in the second waterproof layer. However, it is also possible or even preferred that the second water repellent layer does not comprise a layer of fibrous material completely embedded in the second water repellent layer.

Preferably, the roofing membrane has a 90 ° peel resistance on stainless steel of at least 5N/50mm, more preferably at least 10N/50mm, most preferably at least 15N/50mm, measured by using the method defined by the EN DIN 1372 standard. Such peel strength has been found with an adhesive layer as defined above.

The roofing membrane of the invention is typically provided in the form of a prefabricated membrane product which is transported to the construction site and unrolled from a roll to provide a sheet material having a width of 1 to 5 metres and a length of several times the width. However, roofing membranes can also be used in the form of strips, typically 1-20cm wide, for example to seal seams between two adjacent membranes. In addition, roofing membranes may also be provided in the form of planar bodies, which are used to repair existing, adhered, water-resistant or damaged locations in roofing systems.

The preferences given above for the water barrier layer, adhesive layer, fibrous material layer and release liner apply equally to all aspects of the invention, unless otherwise indicated.

Another subject of the invention is a fully adhered roofing system comprising a roofing substrate and a roofing membrane according to the invention adhered directly to the surface of the roofing substrate by an adhesive layer. The expression "directly adhered" is understood to mean that no other layer is present between the adhesive layer and the roof substrate.

The roof substrate to which the roofing membrane is bonded is preferably selected from the group consisting of insulation panels, decking and existing roofing membranes.

According to one or more embodiments, at least 50%, preferably at least 75%, most preferably at least 85% of the area of the second major surface of the waterproofing layer is adhered to the surface of the roof substrate by the adhesive layer. According to one or more embodiments, substantially the entire area of the second major surface of the waterproofing layer is adhered to the surface of the roof substrate by the adhesive layer.

Detailed description of the drawings

Fig. 1 shows a cross-section of a roofing membrane (1) comprising a water-proof layer (2), an adhesive layer (3) and a release liner (4) covering the outer major surface of the adhesive layer (3). In this embodiment, the adhesive layer (3) covers substantially the entire area of the second main surface of the waterproofing layer (2), and the release liner (4) covers substantially the entire area of the outer main surface of the adhesive layer (3) facing away from the second main surface of the waterproofing layer (2).

Figure 2 shows a cross-section of a roofing membrane (1) according to one embodiment of the roofing membrane presented in figure 1. In this embodiment, the roofing membrane (1) further comprises a layer of fibrous material (5) completely embedded in the waterproofing layer (2).

Fig. 3 shows a cross section of a fully adhered roofing system comprising a roofing substrate (6) and a roofing membrane (1), said roofing membrane (1) being directly adhered to the surface of the roofing substrate (6) via an adhesive layer (3). In this embodiment, substantially the entire area of the second major surface of the waterproofing layer (2) is adhered to the surface of the roof substrate (6) via the adhesive layer (3). Furthermore, the roofing membrane (1) further comprises a layer of fibrous material (5) which is completely embedded in the waterproof layer (2).

Examples

Preparation of roofing membranes

By using 140g/m²Coat weight of (b) a PVC film Sarnafil G410-15 (available from Sika AG) having a nominal thickness of 1.5mm was coated with a layer of a water-based acrylic dispersion pressure sensitive adhesive to prepare a roofing membrane according to the invention. The applied adhesive layer was covered with a siliconized PE release liner with a thickness of 80 μm.

By using 140g/m²Coating weight of (1) a reference roofing membrane was prepared by coating a PVC membrane Sarnafil G410-15 (available from Sika AG) with a styrene block copolymer (SBS/SIS) based hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive. The applied adhesive layer was covered with a siliconized PE release liner with a thickness of 80 μm.

Both roofing membranes were stored at a temperature of 80 ℃ for 4 weeks before measuring the peel strength obtained with the adhesive layer.

Peel resistance (Strength)

The peel resistance from the metal surface was measured using the method defined in the EN DIN 1372 standard. In peel resistance measurements, sample strips of the tested roofing membranes were peeled at a peel angle of 90 ° using a Zwick tensile testing apparatus and a constant beam speed of 100 mm/min. The average peel resistance was calculated as the average peel force [ N/50mm ] per strip width over a length of about 10cm of peel, thus excluding from the calculation the first and last fifth of the total peel length. The average peel resistance value was calculated as the average of the measurements obtained with two similar roofing membranes.

In the case of the roofing membrane of the invention, an average peel resistance of 28N/50mm was obtained, whereas the reference roofing membrane showed a complete loss of adhesion due to the migration of the plasticizer from the PVC membrane to the adhesive layer.