Coated closed-cell foam tube insulations and methods for producing the same
AssigneeL'Isolante K-Flex S.p.A.
InventorBiju Valakkadavil Thomas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is an insulation product, optionally in a tubular form, that includes a coated foam insulation layer, where the foam insulation layer has a closed-cell structure. The coating can comprise a thermoplastic elastomer that seamlessly covers and is bonded to an outer surface of the elastomeric foam layer in the absence of an adhesive bonding material to protect the foam insulation layer, e.g., during outdoor insulation applications. A pipe where the insulation product is installed is also provided, as is a method of installing the insulation product, and a method of producing the insulation product.
Claims14
A composite tubing configured for use as an insulation product, wherein said composite tubing consists of two layers:
- (a) a foam insulation layer, wherein the foam insulation layer is an elastomeric foam insulation layer having a closed-cell structure comprising a combination of polyvinylchloride and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (PVC/NBR) and configured to fit directly over the surface of a round pipe;
- and
- (b) a coating layer bonded to and seamlessly covering an outer surface of the foam insulation layer, wherein the coating layer comprises a thermoplastic elastomer comprising ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and is bonded to the outer surface of the foam insulation layer in the absence of an adhesive, wherein the composite tubing is configured to fit a round pipe.
A pipe installation, consisting of:
- (a) a round pipe;
- and
- (b) a composite tubing encompassing an outer surface of the pipe, wherein said composite tubing consists of two layers:
- (i) a foam insulation layer, wherein the foam insulation layer is an elastomeric foam insulation layer having a closed-cell structure comprising PVC/NBR and configured to fit directly over the surface of the round pipe, and (ii) a coating layer comprising a thermoplastic elastomer comprising ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) bonded to and seamlessly covering an outer surface of the foam insulation layer, wherein said insulation product is free of an adhesive to bond the coating layer to the outer surface of the foam insulation layer.
A method of making an insulation product, the method consisting of:
- (a) providing a closed-cell foam tube, wherein the closed-cell foam tube is a closed-cell elastomeric foam tube comprising PVC/NBR and configured to fit directly over the surface of a round pipe;
- and
- (b) extruding a polymeric coating in an encapsulating manner over the closed-cell foam tube to seamlessly cover the outer surface of the foam tube, wherein the extruding is performed at a temperature to provide a bond between the polymeric coating and the foam surface and wherein the polymeric coating comprises a thermoplastic elastomer comprising ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), and wherein the bond is an adhesive-free bond.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.