Methods and apparatus for electrically modifying gel adhesion

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for controlling the adhesive bond between an electric-field responsive material and a substrate, which method comprises using an electric field to control the strength and integrity of the adhesive bond. The method may be used, for example, for removing or delaminating a material, which material is responsive to an electric field, from a substrate. The invention further comprises elimination of the application of the electric field and application of the previously removed electric-field-responsive material to the substrate, thereby resuming the strength and integrity of the adhesive bond. The invention includes apparatus for use in the bond controlling process.

1 - 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A method for disbonding an adhesive bond between an electric-field-responsive material and a substrate, comprising:
 applying an electric field to reduce the strength and integrity of said adhesive bond;   wherein said electric-field-responsive material is a gel comprising a polymeric material and a solvent.   
     
     
         50 . A method for controlling the adhesion strength of the adhesive bond between an electric-field-responsive material and a substrate, comprising:
 applying an electric field to completely disbond and remove said electric-field-responsive material from said substrate; and   eliminating the application of said electric field and applying said electric-field-responsive material to the substrate or to another substrate, thereby at least partially resuming the strength and integrity of the adhesive bond of the previously disbonded material to said substrate or said other substrate, respectively;   wherein said electric-field-responsive material is a gel comprising a polymeric material and a solvent.   
     
     
         51 . The method according to any of  claims 49  and  50 ;
 wherein a component of the electric-field-responsive material is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic and aromatic polyethers, acrylic polymers, vinyl polymers, polyamides, polyacrylates, polyacrylamides, polynitriles, nitrile-functionalized polymers, polyvinyl pyridines, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon polymers, silicone polymers, phosphazine polymers, cellulose, fluoropolymers, polysulfides, and polyesters, and blends, copolymers, and compositions thereof. 
 
     
     
         52 . The method according to any of  claims 49  and  50 ;
 wherein a component of the electric-field-responsive material is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl morpholinone, poly(2-vinylpyridine), polyacrylic acid, alkali metal salts of polyacrylic acid, ethylene maleic anhydride copolymers, polyvinyl ethers, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, sulphated polysaccharides, polymers of vinyl sulfonic acid, poly(ethylene glycol), poly(propylene glycol), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(propylene oxide), and copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, and blends, copolymers, and compositions thereof. 
 
     
     
         53 . The method according to any of  claims 49  and  50 ;
 wherein a component the electric-field-responsive material is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamide, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-1-vinylimidazole), poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide), poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide), poly(1-vinylimidazole), poly(sodium acrylate), poly(sodium methacrylate), poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate), poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate), poly(N-[tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl]acrylamide), poly(-(3-methacryloxy)propylsulfonic acid) (sodium salt), poly(allylamine), poly(N-acryloxysuccinimide), poly(N-vinylcaprolactam), poly(1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone), poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate), poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) (sodium salt), poly((3-acrylamidopropyl) trimethylammonium chloride), and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride), and blends, copolymers, and compositions thereof. 
 
     
     
         54 . The method according to any of  claims 49  and  50 ;
 wherein a component of the electric-field-responsive material is selected from the group consisting of polyanhydrides, polyorthoesters, polyphosphazenes, polymers of lactic acid, polymers of glycolic acid, poly(dioxanone), poly(trimethylene carbonate), poly(ε-caprolactone), polylactide, polyalkylene esters, polyamide esters, and polyvinyl esters, and blends, copolymers, and compositions thereof. 
 
     
     
         55 . The method according to any of  claims 49  and  50 ;
 wherein the polymeric material is present in the electric-field-responsive material in an amount of from about 0.1 to 99 weight percent, based on the total weight of the electric-field-responsive material. 
 
     
     
         56 . The method according to any of  claims 49  and  50 ;
 wherein the electric-field-responsive material further comprises other atoms and molecules, which are different from the macromolecules of the polymeric material and the molecules of the solvent. 
 
     
     
         57 . The method according to any of  claims 49  and  50 ;
 wherein said electric-field-responsive material comprises a hydrogel. 
 
     
     
         58 . The method according to any of  claims 49  and  50 ;
 wherein said gel comprises:
 macromolecules cross-linked by chemical fastenings forming a polymer network that is swollen by said solvent. 
 
 
     
     
         59 . The method according to any of  claims 49  and  50 ;
 wherein said gel comprises:
 macromolecules cross-linked by physical fastenings forming a polymer network that is swollen by said solvent.