Segmented flexible gel composites and rigid panels manufactured therefrom
AssigneeAspen Aerogels, Inc.
InventorsOwen R. Evans, Irene Melnikova
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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.
Claims40
A reinforced aerogel composite sheet comprising an aerogel and a segmented reinforcement sheet, wherein
- the segmented reinforcement sheet has a length, a width, and a thickness, and
- the segmented reinforcement sheet is fully segmented through the thickness 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 aerogel composite sheet, the reinforced aerogel composite sheet comprising an aerogel and a segmented reinforcement sheet, wherein
- at least one gap exists between at least two adjoining segments with discontinuity in at least the reinforcement sheet, and
- the at least one gap faces the second reinforced aerogel composite;
- the segmented reinforcement sheet has a length, a width, and a thickness,
- the segmented reinforcement sheet is fully segmented through the thickness across the entire width of the segmented reinforcement sheet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.