Segmented flexible gel composites and rigid panels manufactured therefrom
AssigneeAspen Aerogels, Inc.
InventorsOwen R Evans, Irene Melnikova
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention describes various methods for manufacturing gel composite sheets using segmented fiber or foam reinforcements and gel precursors. Additionally, rigid panels manufactured from the resulting gel composites are also described. The gel composites are relatively flexible enough to be wound and when unwound, can be stretched flat and made into rigid panels using adhesives.
Claims18
A reinforced silica aerogel composite sheet comprising an inorganic aerogel based on silica and a segmented reinforcement sheet comprising a segmented fiber reinforcement sheet or a segmented open-cell foam reinforcement sheet, wherein
- the silica aerogel has a continuous network through the fiber or foam in at least one segment of the segmented reinforcement sheet,
- the segmented reinforcement sheet has a length, a width shorter than the length, and a thickness,
- the segmented reinforcement sheet is segmented partially through the thickness continuously across the entire width of the segmented reinforcement sheet.
A panel comprising at least a first reinforced aerogel composite and a second reinforced aerogel composite, wherein the first reinforced aerogel composite comprises a reinforced silica aerogel composite sheet, comprising a silica aerogel and a segmented reinforcement sheet which comprises a segmented fiber reinforcement sheet or a segmented open-cell foam reinforcement sheet, wherein
- the silica aerogel has a continuous network through the fiber or foam in at least one segment of the segmented reinforcement sheet,
- at least one gap exists between at least two adjoining segments with discontinuity in both the silica aerogel and the fiber reinforcement sheet or foam reinforcement sheet,
- the at least one gap faces the second reinforced aerogel composite;
- the segmented reinforcement sheet has a length, a width shorter than the length, and a thickness, and
- the segmented reinforcement sheet is segmented partially through the thickness continuously across the entire width of the segmented reinforcement sheet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.