US 8,522,829 B2Granted

Microphere-containing insulation

Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company

InventorsAndrew S. D'Souza, Robert W. Hunter, Maria B. Urquiola

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An insulated article having a first insulation region comprising a first polymeric material and first hollow ceramic microspheres and a second insulation region comprising a second polymeric material and second hollow ceramic microspheres. The first insulation region has a thermal conductivity that is no greater than the thermal conductivity of the first polymeric material and a volumetric heat capacity in a range of 60% to 90% of the volumetric heat capacity of the first polymeric material. The second insulation region has a thermal conductivity that is no greater than 90% of the thermal conductivity of the second polymeric material and a volumetric heat capacity that is less than 60% of the volumetric heat capacity of the second polymeric material. A method for making a composition for insulating an article is also described.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An insulated article, comprising:

an article having a surface;
a first insulation region substantially covering the surface of the article, the first insulation region having a first thermal conductivity and a first volumetric heat capacity, the first insulation region comprising a first polymeric material and at least 10% by volume first hollow ceramic microspheres, based on the total volume of the first insulation region, wherein the first polymeric material has a second thermal conductivity and a second volumetric heat capacity, wherein the first thermal conductivity is no greater than the second thermal conductivity, and wherein the first volumetric heat capacity is in a range from 60% to 90% of the second volumetric heat capacity;
and
a second insulation region substantially covering the surface of the article, the second insulation region having a third thermal conductivity and a third volumetric heat capacity, the second insulation region comprising a second polymeric material and second hollow ceramic microspheres, wherein the second polymeric material has a fourth thermal conductivity and a fourth volumetric heat capacity, wherein the third thermal conductivity is not greater than 90% of the fourth thermal conductivity, wherein the third volumetric heat capacity is less than 60% of the fourth volumetric heat capacity, and wherein the first polymeric material and the second polymeric material are independently selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics, thermosets, and mixtures thereof, with at least one of (a) the proviso that at least one of the first polymeric material or the second polymeric material is a thermoplastic or (b) the proviso that the first insulation region is interposed between the article and the second insulation region.

1 more element

A method for making a composition for insulating an article having a surface, the method comprising:

obtaining requirements data defining thermal requirements for a first insulation region having a first thermal conductivity and a first volumetric heat capacity and a second insulation region having a third thermal conductivity and a third volumetric heat capacity, wherein the first insulation region and the second insulation region substantially cover the surface of the insulated article;
based at least partially on the thermal requirements for the first insulation region, generating a first formulation for a composition for the first insulation region, the composition comprising a first polymeric material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics, thermosets, and mixtures thereof and at least 10% by volume first hollow ceramic microspheres, based on the total volume of the first insulation region, wherein the first polymeric material has a second thermal conductivity and a second volumetric heat capacity, wherein the first thermal conductivity is no greater than the second thermal conductivity, and wherein the first volumetric heat capacity is in a range from 60% to 90% of the second volumetric heat capacity;
based at least partially on the thermal requirements for the second insulation region, generating a second formulation for a composition for the second insulation region, the composition comprising a second polymeric material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics, thermosets, and mixtures thereof and second hollow ceramic microspheres, wherein the second polymeric material has a fourth thermal conductivity and a fourth volumetric heat capacity, wherein the third thermal conductivity is not greater than 90% of the fourth thermal conductivity, and wherein the third volumetric heat capacity is less than 60% of the fourth volumetric heat capacity;
making a composition for the first insulation region having the first formulation;
and
making a composition for the second insulation region having the second formulation.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/516,410Filed 27 Nov 2007 · us provisional application
Priority: 29 Nov 2006
Published: US 2010/0126618 A127 May 2010
Granted: 3 Sep 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

C04B 26/04
Macromolecular compounds: obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
C04B 26/10
Macromolecular compounds: obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
F16L 59/021
Shape or form of insulating materials, with or without coverings integral with the insulating materials: comprising a single piece or sleeve, e.g.…
C04B 2111/00612
Uses not provided for elsewhere in C04B2111/00: as one or more layers of a layered structure