Structural building elements having pressure-sensitive adhesive

Abstract

A building element having pressure-sensitive adhesive coating layer having a low initial bond strength, to permit a substrate to be repositioned without destroying the integrity of the adhesive, and a long term bond strength, which occurs after the building element is mechanically fastened to another building element. This allows wood deck components, flooring planks, roofing tiles, and other building material components to be fastened together conveniently while securing a waterproofing and/or sound-deadening effect.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to devices and methods for fastening two or more building materials together, and more particularly to structural building elements having a pre-attached pressure-sensitive layer. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Adhesives are available for achieving improved structural integrity and bonding between common building materials, such as those used in subfloor installations. Heavy-duty adhesives sold by ICI Paints under the tradename LIQUID NAILS® are sold, for example, to increase the structural integrity of walls and subfloor systems. These liquid adhesives can be used with plywood, foamboard, particle board, lumber and treated lumber, waferboard, and OSB. Such a construction adhesive provides for “quiet” floor assemblies in that the adhesive is said to eliminate squeaking between boards and between the boards and nails. [0003] Unfortunately, the decking, flooring, or other component must be attached within fairly short tim...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] In surmounting the disadvantages of the prior art, the present invention provides a building element, such as an I-beam, joist, stud, roof joist, or floor joist on which one or more surfaces thereof have a pre-formed, pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. The adhesive layer is characterized by having an initial low (or no) bond strength, which permits a second building element to be easily placed and re-positioned against it without initially disrupting the integrity of the adhesive. Further, the adhesive layer has a long-term bond strength. This long-term bond strength is measured in terms of shear-strength at 28 days after the building element is mechanically fastened to another building element such that the adhesive is compressed between them. Preferably, the adhesive layer is a hot melt extruded onto the building element surface and protected by a release sheet liner which is removed at the construction site.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, the decking, flooring, or other component must be attached within fairly short time, such as twenty minutes.

Otherwise, a skin will begin to form on the adhesive that can impede the formation of a strong adhesive bond between the building materials.

The application of the adhesive over relatively large surface areas may thus become tiring, inconvenient, and time-consuming.

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