Sealing tape with a functional layer

1. A sealing device in the form of a tape comprising a waterproofing layer having first and second major surfaces and comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer P1 and a functional layer having first and second major surfaces and comprising:

a) 10-70 wt.-% of at least one thermoplastic polymer P2 and

b) 30-90 wt.-% of at least one solid particulate filler F, the proportions being based on the total weight of the functional layer, wherein

the functional layer and the waterproofing layer are directly connected over at least part of their opposing major surfaces and wherein the sealing device further comprises an adhesive layer coated on and at least partially covering the first major surface of the waterproofing layer opposite to side of the functional layer.

2. The sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein the particles of the at least one solid particulate filler F are distributed throughout the entire volume of the functional layer.

3. The sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is a rubber-based adhesive comprising at least one elastomer selected from the group consisting of butyl rubber, halogenated butyl rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, ethylene-propylene diene monomer rubber, natural rubber, chloroprene rubber, synthetic 1,4-cis-polyisoprene, polybutadiene, and isoprene-butadiene copolymer.

4. The sealing device according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one elastomer is present in the rubber-based adhesive in an amount of 5-70 wt.-% based on the total weight of the adhesive and wherein the rubber-based adhesive further comprises at least one tackifying resin and at least one at 25° C. liquid polyolefin resin and/or at least one filler.

5. The sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is an acrylic-based adhesive comprising at least one acrylate polymer.

6. The sealing device according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one acrylate polymer has been prepared by using a monomer mixture comprising at least 65 wt.-% of acrylic monomers of the formula (I);

where R 1 is a hydrogen or a methyl group and R 2 is a hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 2 to 30 carbon atoms.

7. The sealing device according to claim 5 , wherein the adhesive is an at least partially crosslinked acrylic-based adhesive.

8. The sealing device according to claim 5 , wherein the adhesive is an at least partially crosslinked composition of:

a′) at least 65.0 wt.-% of the at least acrylate polymer,

b′) 0.01-5.0 wt.-% of at least one curing agent,

c′) 0.1-5.0 wt.-%, of at least one initiator, and

d′) 0-30.0 wt.-% of at least one tackifying resin, all proportions being based on the total weight of the composition.

9. The sealing device according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one initiator c′) is a photo-initiator.

10. The sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer has a thickness of 0.1-2.5 mm.

11. The sealing device according to claim 1 further comprising a release liner at least partially covering the outward facing surface of the adhesive layer opposite the side of the waterproofing layer.

12. The sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymers P1 and P2 are selected from the group consisting of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), ethylene-acrylic ester copolymers, ethylene-α-olefin co-polymers, ethylene-propylene co-polymers, propylene-α-olefin co-polymers, propylene-ethylene copolymers, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polyamides (PA), chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSPE), ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), and polyisobutylene (PIB) and/or the at least one solid particulate filler F is selected from the group consisting of inert mineral fillers and mineral binders.

13. A method for producing a sealing device according to claim 1 comprising steps of:

i) extruding and/or calendering and/or co-extruding compositions of the waterproofing layer and the functional layer to form a membrane composite,

ii) providing an adhesive composition and optionally heating the adhesive composition to allow the adhesive composition to flow, and

iii) coating adhesive composition onto the first major surface of the waterproofing layer opposite the side of the functional layer such that the first major surface of the waterproofing layer is at least partially covered by an adhesive layer.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the adhesive composition is an UV-curable acrylic-based pressure sensitive adhesive and wherein the method comprises a further step of:

iv) subjecting the adhesive layer to UV-radiation to effect crosslinking of the adhesive composition.

15. The method according to claim 13 comprising a further step of:

v) applying a release liner to the outward facing surface of the adhesive layer opposite the side of the waterproofing layer.

16. A method for waterproofing a substrate comprising steps of:

i) providing first and second waterproofing membranes having inner and outer surfaces,

ii) positioning the waterproofing membranes on surface of the substrate such that the inner surfaces of the membranes are facing the surface of the substrate and the end portions of the membranes are overlapped to form a lapped joint between the membranes,

iii) applying the sealing device according to claim 1 to and over the lapped joint such that the adhesive layer is directly contacted with at least portion of the outer surface of the first and second membrane on both sides of the lapped joint, and

iv) pressing sealing device against the outer surfaces of the waterproofing membranes with a pressure sufficient to affect adhesive bonding.

17. A method comprising applying the sealing device according to claim 1 to seal lapped joints formed between overlapping portions of polymeric membranes.