Aerogel-in-foam thermal insulation and its preparation
AssigneeArmacell LLC
InventorsCarrielee Fidler, Thomas C. Simonton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Insulative compositions are prepared by agitating an aqueous mixture of aerogel and gelatin. Insulation obtained with such methods is non-toxic, environmentally safe, fire resistant with low smoke, has good handling properties, and provides low thermal conductivities. The insulation can be made in sheets, loose fill, or can be molded into particular shapes to provide particular types of insulation such as pipe insulation.
Claims17
A process for making a thermally insulative foamed composition which comprises combining aqueous gelatin and particles of an inorganic, hydrophobic aerogel to form a mixture, agitating the mixture to form a wet foam, and drying the wet foam, wherein the gelatin is present at an amount of at least about 2% by dry weight, the said gelatin having a minimum Bloom of at least about 60, and the aerogel being present at an amount of at least about 5% by dry weight, wherein further there is a sufficient amount of water in the mixture to wet the hydrophobic aerogel and also allow the mixture to foam.
A thermally insulative composition which comprises a dried foam of a gelatin and a hydrophobic aerogel;
- wherein the gelatin is present at an amount of at least about 2% by total weight, the said gelatin having a minimum Bloom of at least about 60, and the hydrophobic aerogel is present at an amount of at least about 5% or more by total weight.
A process for making a thermally insulative foamed composition which comprises combining aqueous gelatin and particles of an inorganic, hydrophobic aerogel to form a mixture, agitating the mixture to form a wet gelatin foam, and drying the wet gelatin foam, wherein the gelatin is present at an amount of at least about 2% by dry weight, the said gelatin having a minimum Bloom of at least about 60, and the aerogel being present at an amount of at least about 5% by dry weight, wherein further there is a sufficient amount of water in the mixture to wet the hydrophobic aerogel and also allow the mixture to foam, further providing that the hydrophobic aerogel particles are in two different sizes:
- pieces having a diameter in the range of from about 1 to about 10 millimeters and pieces having a diameter less than about 1 millimeter in diameter.
A thermally insulative composition which comprises a dried foam of a gelatin and hydrophobic aerogel particles;
- wherein the gelatin is present at an amount of at least about 2% by total weight, the said gelatin having a minimum Bloom of at least about 60, and the hydrophobic aerogel is present at an amount of at least about 5% or more by total weight, further providing that the hydrophobic aerogel particles are in two different sizes:
- pieces having a diameter in the range of from about 1 to about 10 millimeters and pieces having a diameter less than about 1 millimeter in diameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.