Monolithic thermocasting of polymer mixtures for architectural applications
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Michigan
InventorsThomas Moran, Simon Anton, Rachel Mulder, Meredith Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A monolithic thermocasting system for thermocasting polymer and solid material and method of use having an internal frame system; an external frame system disposed external to the internal frame system; a mold cavity formed between the internal frame system and the external frame system, the mold cavity sized to receive the polymer and solid material and shaped to form an architectural member; a duct; and a heater element disposed in the duct for outputting thermal energy to the mold cavity to heat the polymer and solid material, the thermal energy being sufficient to thermocast the polymer and solid material to a combined building material.
Claims12
A monolithic thermocasting system for thermocasting polymer and solid material, the monolithic thermocasting system comprising:
- an internal frame system having an internal hollow duct;
- an external frame system disposed external to the internal frame system;
- a mold cavity formed between the internal frame system and the external frame system, the mold cavity sized to receive the polymer and solid material and shaped to form a hollow architectural member;
- and
- a heater element disposed in the internal hollow duct configured for outputting thermal energy to the mold cavity via at least the internal frame system to heat the polymer and solid material, the thermal energy being sufficient to thermocast the polymer and solid material to a combined building material.
A method of monolithic thermocasting of a combination polymer and solid material for architectural purposes, the method comprising:
- obtaining a polymer;
- obtaining a solid material;
- combining the polymer and the solid material to form a combination mixture;
- inserting the combination mixture within a mold cavity of a monolithic thermocasting system, the monolithic thermocasting system having an internal frame system having an internal hollow duct, an external frame system disposed external to the internal frame system, the mold cavity formed between the internal frame system and the external frame system;
- and
- applying heat within the internal hollow duct of the internal frame system to heat the mold cavity to a temperature sufficient to transition the polymer to a liquid phase to produce a conglomerate of polymer and solid material.
A thermocasting system for thermocasting polymer and solid material, the thermocasting system comprising:
- a mold cavity sized to receive the polymer and solid material and shaped to form an architectural member, the mold cavity being formed between an internal frame system having an internal hollow duct and an external frame system disposed external to the internal frame system;
- a heater element disposed within the internal hollow duct of the internal frame system configured for outputting thermal energy to the mold cavity to heat the polymer and solid material, the thermal energy being sufficient to thermocast the polymer and solid material to a combined building material;
- and
- a manipulation device configured to rotate the mold cavity and heater element simultaneously with thermocasting the polymer and solid material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.