High thermal capacitance multilayer thermal insulation
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorEdward T. Mahefkey, Jr.
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Abstract
A high thermal capacitance multilayer thermal insulation structure is described, which is of particular utility for thermal protection against exposure to alternate high and low radiant heat flux levels, and which comprises a laminate of alternate metal foil or metallized plastic foil layers and layers of material which are characterized by phase change upon the absorption of heat, the foil layers providing high reflectance and reradiation of the heat flux, and the phase change layers providing for absorption and storage of heat during periods of high heat flux for reradiation during periods of low heat flux.
Claims14
A thermally insulative covering structure for withstanding the effects of exposure to alternate high and low radiant heat fluxes, comprising, a laminate of a plurality of alternate first and second layers, said first layers comprising metallic foils for reflecting said radiant heat during periods of high heat flux exposure and for reradiating heat from said structure during periods of low heat flux exposure, said second layers comprising a matrix containing a material which exhibits a change of phase from a first phase to a second phase upon absorption of heat and which absorbs and stores heat by said change of phase from said first phase to said second phase during said periods of high heat flux exposure and which releases and reradiates said stored heat during periods of low heat flux by change of phase from said second phase to said first phase, at least one of said first layers comprising an outer layer of said structure directly exposed to said heat fluxes.
A thermally insulative covering structure for withstanding the effects of exposure to alternate high and low radiant heat fluxes, comprising, a laminate of a plurality of alternate first and second layers, said first layers comprising metallized plastic foils for reflecting said radiant heat during periods of high heat flux exposure and for reradiating heat from said structure during periods of low heat flux exposure, said second layers comprising a matrix containing a material which exhibits a change of phase from a first phase to a second phase upon absorption of heat and which absorbs and stores heat by said change of phase from said first phase to said second phase during said periods of high heat flux exposure and which releases and reradiates said stored heat during periods of low heat flux by change of phase from said second phase to said first phase, at least one of said first layers comprising an outer layer of said structure directly exposed to said heat fluxes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.