Hydrophobic Fiberglass Thermal Insulation Materials

Abstract

Hydrophobic thermal insulation fiberglass flexible blanket using a textile grade fiberglass is produced by impregnating a hydrophobic polymer (e.g. a fluoropolymer) dispersion into a fiberglass blanket/mat, such as a needle felted fiberglass (FG) blanket/mat. The preferred FG needle felt blanket is a mechanically, rather than organically, bound glass fiber insulating blanket. The hydrophobic polymer dispersion forms a hydrophobic coating on the surface of the fiberglass filaments. Integral hydrophobicity is achieved and maintained without the need to add commonly-used hydrophobic inorganic particles, such as treated silica aerogels or fumed silica. Optionally, to enhance overall hydrophobicity and to inhibit fibrous surface lofting, a super-hydrophobic coating of fluoropolymer and inorganic particles such as silica particles may be dispersed onto one or more surfaces of the blanket. The resulting blanket thermally insulates better than mineral wool; it is equal in insulating properties to (or is slightly better than) untreated FG mat; and it slightly less insulating than aerogel-based blanket materials. It is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, it is flexible, it is durable, it can optionally be made moldable, it eliminates dust, and it remains hydrophobic after long-term heating to 600° F. (315° C.), or after short-term excursions to temperatures as high as 700° F. (370° C.).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.