Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1~43a!43
Field of the Invention
0 This invention relates to improvements in adhe6ives particularly useful for
shoe making and to a shoe making process in which the strength of bond between
the ~oling material and the shoe is improved with the aid of the adheslve.
Background of_he Invention
It has been proposed to make shoes by a so-called string lasting process in
which an upper is closed, a draw string is attached to the periphery of the sole attaching
margin as by overlocked thread, the upper is transferred to a foot form of a sole
molding machine and the draw string is tensioned to bring the roughened arèa of
the ~upper to a bottom surfaoe of the mold . Subsequently the foot form is presented
20 to a mold cavity of the 00le molding machine, and hot polyvinyl chloride compound
i6 injected into l~e closed cavity to form a sole attached to the shoe upper.
~ : With~ màny shoe upper materials the union between the shoe upper and the
molded-on sole is not sufficien~y strong. To overcome this weakness, U. S. Patent
~: to Chandler et al 3,522 j343 of July 28, 1970 has proposed that a thin sheet of heat
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` activatable adhesive be d1~posed on the attaching surface of the bottom of the slloe
: upper before molding on the so1e. When hot plastic sole forming material i~ molded
against the bottom of the shoe, the adhesive is activated and establishes a Mrm bond
between the mol~ted on sole and the attaching surface ~ the ~hoe.
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Desirably, an adhesive for commercial use in film form in a string lasting process
for adhering the sole to the shoe upper, should satisfy at least some of a number
of criteria to some extent, including for example capacity to be produced as a handleable
film (preferably a self-supporting film requir;ng no interleaving paper), ease of
activation, to an extent sufficient to adequatel~y wet the upper, by molten PVC which
i6 frequently injected at a temperature of the order of 170C . to 180C ., the ability
to provide a bond which when warm i6 of adequate strength, and rapid build up of
adhesive strength to provide a firm bond showing toughness, flexibility and no substan-
tial creep. Desirabl~r also, the adhesive will form acceptable bonds to leather uppers
10made from materials of various qualities.
Whilst various polyester based, and polyurethane based adhesives have been
proposed for use in the shoe making and other trades, not all of them can be provided
in the form of films with appropriate handling, heat activation and other properties.
Brief Summary of the Invention
It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat softenable adhesive
composition having properties fitting it for use in the form of a film particularly for
shoe making purposes.
It is a further ob~ect of the present invention to provide an improved shoe making
process giving an improved bond between a shoe upper and a sole molded thereon.
To these ends and in accordance with a feature of the present invention we
have provided a new heat softenable polyurethane based adhesive including the reaction
~-; product of a diisocyanate and a polyester glycol from condensation of acids including
terephthalic acid and diols including 1, 6, hexane diol.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the novel adhesive composi-
tion in the form of a film i6 disposed between the attaching surface of a shoe upper
and a mold where it is brought to active adhesive condition by heat from molten plastic
30 material injected mto the mold and forms when the mo]ded sole has cooled a strong
adhesive union between the shoe upper and the molded on sole or other tread member.
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Description of Preferred Embodiment
We have now found that certain isocyanate extended 1.6
hexane diol terephthalate based polyesters possess particular
properties which render them suitable for use as adhesives
for various material including use in the form of a film in
a process of molding and directly attaching soles of PVC com-
pound to string lasted leather shoe uppers.
The present invention may be considered to provide for
example in one of its various aspects an adhesive composition
comprising a heat softenable polyurethane having a relative
viscosity determined from a solution in reagent grade m-cresol
of 1 gm. of the material per 100 cc. of solution according to
British Standard Methods for the Determination of the Viscosity
of Liquids in C.G.S. Units, BS188 : 1957 at 25 + 0.05C. in a
suspended level viscometer, in the range 1.36 to 2.10 formed
from diisocyanate and substantially linear hydroxyl bearing
polyester material said polyester material being made up of acid
units of which not less than about 60 mole percent are derived
from terephthalic acid and diol units of which not less than
about 60 mole percent are derived from hexane diol-1,6 units,
said polyurethane having a cure inde~ of from 80 to 100.
The expression "relative viscosity" where used herein is
defined as the relative viscosity of a solution of the material
measured in a solution in reagent grade m-cresol of 1 gm. of the
material per 100 cc of solution according to BS 188 : 1957 at
25 ~ 0.05C. in a suspended level viscometer.
In an adhesive composition which is intended for use in
film form in a process of molding and directly attaching soles
of PVC compound to string lasted leather uppers the polyester ma~v
be a simpla poly(hexamethylene terephthalate) with a relative
viscosity from 1.10 to 1.20. Poly(hexamethylene terephthalates)
with relative viscosities less than 1.10 tend to yield poly-
; urethanes which are rather brittle and thus less suitable for use
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as films, whereas poly(hexamethylene terephthalates) with rela-
tive viscosities greater than 1.20 tend to yield polyurethanes
which have a somewhat lower capacity ~or softening by heating.
A quantity of diol derived units or acid derived units in
addition to hexane diol-1:6 derived and terephthalic acid derived
units in the polyester tends to yield more fle~ible, less brittle
polyurethanes with improved capacity for heat activ~tion, thus,
suitably, such polyester material with relative viscosities of
1.10 to 1.36, more preferably 1.12 to 1.20, may be used. Addi-
tional diol derived units may be introduced to the polyester byuse of a "second diol" introduced as partial replacement of
hexane diol-1:6 prior to reaction with the acid component used in
making the polyester. This second diol may be of the general for-
mula C ~2N 22 for example a primary substituted paraffin of
which ethylene glycol, butane diol-1:4 and pentane diol-1:5 are
examples, a secondary substituted paraf~in of which pentane diol-
1:4 is an example and the homologous series of glycols, e.g.
propylene glycol. Diol substituted branched paraf~ins such as
neopentandiol may also be used. Other materials suitable as the
second diol include diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, ali-
cyclic diols such as cyclohexane dimethanol, and aromatic di-
hydroxy compounds such as p-xylylene glycol or the reaction prod-
ucts of ethylene oxide or propylene oxide with bisphenol-A~
These two last mentioned diols are commercially available under
the trade marks Dianol 22 and Dianol 33. Of these materials, we
prefer to use pentandiol-1:5 as the second diol.
; Additional acid derived units may be introduced to the
~ polyester by use of a "second acid" introduced as partial replace-
; ment of terephthalic acid prior to reaction with the diol com-
ponent used in making the polyester. This second acid may be an
aliphatic material having 3 to 32 carbon atoms per molecule,
e.g. adipic acid, "dimer acids", an alicyclic dibasic acid e.g.
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orthophthalic acid. We prefer to use isophthalic acid as the
second acid. The polyester may be based on both mixed diols
and mixed acids.
We believe that rapid and extensive crystallisation of
poly(hexamethylene terephthalate) arises from the ease of
packing of hexamethylene or terephthalate sections when the
product solidifies. The introduction of units derived from
a second diol or a second acid interferes with the regularity
of the molecular chains and modifies
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the crystallinity habit of the product resulting in tougher films, easier melting of
the film and less strain within the adhesive bond when crystallisation occurs. If
the substitution of the modifiers is taken to e~cess, the crystallinity will be so affected
that desirable qualities arising from it will be lost, and consequently low hot strength
and significant creep in the completed bond rnay ensue.
The quantity of units other than terephthalic acid units or hexane diol-l: 6
units used in the polyester may be chosen for example in accordance with the types
of leather which the adhesive composition is intended to bond, and in accordance
with the intended mode of supply of the adhesive composition. For example, we have
10 observed that greater bond strength may be achieved on many leathers using adhesives
according to ~e present invention in which greater quantities of isophthalic acid
derived units or pentane diol-l: 5 derived unitæ are included in the polyester. However,
this improvement in bond strength is frequently accompanied by a corresponding
decrease in creep re6istance, and an increasing tendency of films of the adhesive
to block together when stored in contact.
Where it is desired to supply the adhesive film as a self-supporting film with
no interleaving release paper for use with various grades of leather ranging from
those which are di~ficult to bond to those which are comparatively easy to bond after
moderate roughing, we prefer to use the second diol and/or the second acid in quantities
to provide a total substitution in the polyester chain of about :L5 to about 33 mole %
second units. For use with those leathers which are comparatively easy to bond
after moderate roughing we may use a polyester with 3 to 15 mole % pentane diol-1: 5 derived units or 2 to 10 mole % isophthalic acid derived units.
When the polyester is made up of units from mixed diols or mixed acid, its
relative viscosity may preerably be in the range 1.12 to ~ . 20. Blends of polyesters
may be used in which the relative viscosity of the blend is in this range.
In the adhesive composition preceding, the polyurethanes may be made using
any of the available diisocyanates, :Eor example 4.4' diphenyl methane diisocyanate,
hexamethylene diisocyanate, or isophorone diisocyanate. We prefer to use a mixture
of 80% 2: 4 and 20% 2: 6 isomers of toluene diisocyanates (TDI) .
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In an adhesive composition which is intended for use in fiLm form i~ a process
of molding and directly attaching soles of PVC compound to string lasted leather uppers
the relative viscosity (as defined) of the polyurethane is pre~erably in the range
from 1. 50 to 1. 90 . In many cases, dependant on the identity of the polyester and
the method of making the polyurethane, adhesives according to the invention which
form fil~ns with excellent application and activation character;stics and which lead
to satisfactory adhesive bonds may be formed if the cure index used (i . e. the ratio
of NCO groups of the diisocyanate to OH groups of the polyester) is in the range 80
to 100. However in order to produce bonds with superior -creep resistance it appears
10
desirable to employ a cure index in excess of 90 and preferably in the range 95 to
~8 .
The heat softenable polyurethanes may be prepared by a variety of methods
including addition o~ the diisocyanate to molten polyester, or to a suitable solution
of the polyester. An adva~tage of the former case is that the final product may be
prepared directly from the polyurethane melt, e.g. by coating, spreading or extrusion
to film form. A possible disadvantage with certain products is the very high viscosity
which may obtain and in these cases the solution method may be easier to use. Many
products are also capable of being prepared in powder form by precipitation of the
polymer from solution on cooling, and this preparation method may be of interest
in those cases where the product is intended for use other ~an as a film, e.g. as
a powder for sole attaching or garment laminating purposes .
By use OI adhesive compositions according to the invention it is possible to
provide films which are heat softenable at convenient temperatures and which give
bonds of good strength and creep resistance between leather upper materials and
injected plasticised PVC soling materials. Further, the preferred adhesive compositions
can also be used to provide self-supporting films which may be supplied without
30 interleaving release paper. Naturally, other uses may also be found for adhesive
compositions according to the invention.
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One application in which films of adhesive composition
according to the invention have been found to give satisfactory
performance is the bonding of direct injection molded soles of
plasticised PVC to string lasted leath~r shoe uppers, One
method of shoe making illustrative of this aspect is hereinafter
described by way of example and comprises shaping a closed
; leather upper to the shape of a foot form of an injection mold-
ing machine by a string lasting technique, closing a sole form-
ing mold cavity of the injection molding machine with a film of
10 adhesive composition trapped between the mold cavity and sole
attaching margins of the upper, and injecting hot, molten
plasticised PVC sole forming compound to fill the cavity and
form a sole firmly bonded to the shoe upper.
More particularly, on~ method of making a shoe according
to the invention comprises procuring a closed shoe upper having
a draw string attached to sole attaching margins of the upper,
mounting the closed upper on a form, drawing the string to bring
~- sole attaching margins of the upper towards a "tread-face" of
the form, urging the form into a position such that it presents
sole attaching margins of the upper in register with a mold
cavity shaped to define a shoe sole, injecting hot polyvinyl
chloride sole molding compound into the mold cavity, and provid-
ing an adhesive composition in the sole attaching margins of the
. upper exposed to the mold cavity. The improvement according to
the''invention consists in providing the adhesive as a film of
heat softenable polyurethane adhesive which is substantially
solvent-free and where the cure index is in excess of 90 and
the relative viscosity of the polyurethane is from lo 50 to 1.90,
the film being disposed adjacent said sole attaching margins and
held between said margins and the mold whereby the hot polyvinyl
chloride injected into the mold cavity acts to soften the ad-
hesive film for bonding the sole to the sole attaching margins
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of the upper. ~43~3
In order that the invention may become more clear there now
follows a description of ten example adhesive compositions accord-
ing to the invention, each of which is illustrative of the in-
vention, and of the illustrative method. It is to be understood
that the illustrative adhesive compositions and the illustrative
method have been selected for description to illustrate the
invention by way of example only and not by way of limitation
thereof.
Example 1
800 gms. of a polyester made from terephthalic acid and a
diol mixture consisting of 95 mole % hexandiol-1:6 and 5 mole %
pentandiol-1:5 and having a relative viscosity of 1.122, were
melted in a heated sigma-blade mixer fitted with airtight seals.
With the polyester at 120C., 14006 gmsO o~ mixed isomers of 80%
2:4 and 20% 2:6 toluene dlisocyanates (hereinafter referred to
as TDI), was introduced over a period of 30 mins. via a sealed
funnel fitted in the mixer lid~ During this stage the tempera-
ture reached approximately 140C. and the viscosity of the melt
increased considerably. After a further 60 minutes mixing, the
product was tested for free isocyanate, transferred from the
mixer to a heated spreader and converted into a film 0.125 mm
thick. The relative viscosity of the polyurethane product was
1.725,
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Example 2
156. 3 gms . of a polyester made from terephthalic acid and a diol mixture consisting
of 90 mole % hexandiol-l: 6 and 10 mole % pentandiol-l: 5 and having relative ViSC06it9'
1. 13J was added to a reaction ves~el containing toluol. The stirred system was heated
and 0.15 ~ms. dibutyl tin diluarate were added as catalyst. With the temperature
of the mixture at 100C., 26.5 gms. of mixed isomers of ûO% 2,4 and 2D% 2,6 toluene
diisocyanateæ, (TDI), were added at a steady rate and the reaction completed. On
cooling, polyurethane separating from the solution was collected, dried and converted
to a film 0.125 mm thick. The relative viscosi~r of the produce was 1.675.
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In the following examples 3 to 10 j films of polyurethanes were made using the
method of Example 1 but materials, weights and relative viscosities of the materials
were as described below.
Example 3- 800 gms. of polyester from terephthalic acid and a diol mixture consisting of
95 mole % hexandiol-l: 6 and 5 mole % pentandiol-l: 5, relative viscosity
1.122, and 135 gms. TDI.
Example 4: 800 gms. of polyster from hexandiol-l: 6 and an acid mixture consisting of 90
.
mole % $erephthalic acid and 10 mole % isophthalic acid, relative viscosity
1. 123, and 107 . 3 gms . TDI .
Example 5 900 gms. of poly (hexamethylene terephthalate), relative viscosity 1.11, and
209.6 gms. TDI.
Example 6: A polyester from hexane diol-l: 6 and an acid mixture of 68 moles % tereph-
thalic acid and 32 mole % isophthalic acid, having a relative viscosity of
1.22, wa~ reacted with TDI at a cure index of 107 to give a polyurethane
with a relative viscosity of 1 . 66 .
ExamE~: A polyester from hexane diol-l: 6 and an acid mixture of 68 mole % tereph-
thalic acid and 32 mole % isophthalic acidJ having a relative viscosity of
1.14, was reacted wlth hexamethylene diisocyanate at a cure index of 95
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1~3~143
to give a polyurethane with a relative viscosity of 1. 60 .
Example 8: A polyester from terephthalic acid and a diol mixture of 60 mole g6 hexane
diol-l: 6 and 40 mole % pentane diol-l: 5, ha~7ing a relative viscosity of 1.13
was reacted with TDI at a cure index of 96 to give a polyurethane with a
relative viscosity of 1. 57 .
Example 9: A polyester from hexane diol-l: 6 and an acid mixture of 68 mole % tereph-
thalic acid and 32 mole % isophthalic acid, having a relative vi6cosity of
1.14, was reacted with TDI at a cure index of 95 to give a polyurethane
with a relative visc06ity of 1. 78 .
Example lO: A polyester from terephthalic acid and a diol mixture of 80 mole % hexane
diol-l: 6 and 20 mole % pentane diol-l: 5, having a relative viscosity of
1.13, was reacted with TDI at a cure index of 98 to give a polyurethane
with a relative viscosit; y of 1 . 69 .
Some propertie~ of the polyurethanes thus made are summarised in Table I.
The peel adhesion and creep results were obtained using test sarnples made by injecting
a commercial polyvinyl chloride soling compound at 180C. onto a 1" x 3" sample
of roughed upper leather with a film of polyurethane made as above described to
20 provlde a one-eigh~h of an inch thick layer of polyvinyl chloride bonded to the leather.
To obtain the peel adhesion test results, the force required to separate the polyvinyl
chloride from the leather at 2 inches per minute at room temperature, (24 hours after
bonding) was determined. In order to obtain the creep results, the distance that
the~ bond is induced to open when subjected to a separating load of 0 . 6 kg in 180peel
at 60C. was determined. It was observed that each of the adhesive films was activated
without undue difficulty.
Examination of the results shown in the Table indicates that those adhesive
; compositions which are derived from polyesters wi~h the larger quantities of the
30 second acid (i.e. isophthalic acid) and which used a cure index of 95 or more show
_9_
1~4;~3
acceptable peel adhesion and creep results. Those adhesive
compositions derived rom polyesters with the larger quantities
of the second diol ~i.e. pentane diol-1:5) show acceptable peel
adhesion results but exhibit some creep which may nevertheless
be acceptable.
In a further series of tests, the freshly prepared adhesive
compositions of the Examples were spread onto release paper. It
was observed that films of the compositions of Examples 1, 2, 3,
4 and 5 tended rapidly to become crisp and handleable, with
little tendency of layers of the film to stick to each other;
however, films of the adhesive composition of Example 6 required
two days aging at room temperature to approach this condition,
and films of the adhesive composition of Example 7 required
about 20 hours aging at room temperature to approach this con-
dition.
By way of comparison it is noted that a film of polyurethane
cast from a commercial polyurethane adhesive solution known under
the trademark Desmocoll 4Z0, resulted in bonds showing low creep
at 60C. by the Satra Creep Test, but in order to achieve satis-
factory bonds to leather, it was necessary to apply an initialpriming coat of the adhesive solution to the leather prior to
application of the film.
In carrying out the illustrative method, shoes are made in
the following way. A leather vamp and leather quart~rs are sewn
together to form an upper, and sole attaching margins of the
upper are roughed to a line corresponding to the bite line of a
` sole attaching mold. A draw string is attached to the outer
edge of the roughed area by overlocked thread. Preliminary
shaping of the backpart and forepart of the upper may then take
place if desired to enable the upper to be suitably conformed to
the foot form of an injection molding machine. The upper is
placed on the foot form of an injection molding machine, and the
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draw string tightened and the upper manipulated to draw the
upper into appropriate conformity with the foot form, thus
bringing the roughed margins of the upper onto the shoe bottom
side of the foot form. The ends of the tightened string are
secured, and required fillers, e.g~ a heel filler block, are
fitted to the upper. A film of one or other of the poly-
urethanes adhesives
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of the Examples, prepared as hereinbefore described, is located over the opening
to a sole mold cavity of a mold arrangement of the injection molding machine, and
the foot form brought into register with respect to the cavity. The film of adhesive
is thus trapped between the sole attaching margins of the upper on the foot form and
the edges of the mold cavity, with the roughed margins touching the film. A plasticised
polyvinyl chloricle soling compound i6 injected hot, at about 180C ., into t~e closed
mold cavity, to fill the cavity and press the film against the margins of the upper.
Heat from the injected PVC is sufficient to soften the film to a bond forming condition.
1~ After a suitable cooling time of the order of two minutes, the foot form is moved from
the cavity, carrying with it the upper and sole bonded to it. E~ce~s film of adhesive
is trimmed off.
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