Thermal insulation containing supplemental infrared radiation absorbing material

Abstract

A thermal insulation product includes an infrared radiation absorbing and scattering material dispersed on fibers forming a porous structure. The infrared absorbing and scattering material can include borate compounds, carbonate compounds, and alumina compounds.

1 . A thermal insulation product comprising fibers; and 
 an infrared absorbing and scattering material dispersed on the fibers, wherein    the infrared absorbing and scattering material comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of carbonate compounds, borate compounds, and alumina compounds; and    the product further comprises a porous structure.    
     
     
         2 . The product according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the infrared absorbing and scattering material is dispersed on fibers inside the thermal insulation product.  
     
     
         3 . The product according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous structure is nonwoven.  
     
     
         4 . The product according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibers are inorganic.  
     
     
         5 . The product according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibers comprise a glass.  
     
     
         6 . The product according to  claim 1 , wherein the product comprises the infrared absorbing and scattering material in an amount of from 1 to 40% by weight.  
     
     
         7 . The product according to  claim 1 , wherein the infrared absorbing and scattering material comprises a carbonate compound selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, dolomite and magnesite.  
     
     
         8 . The product according to  claim 1 , wherein the infrared absorbing and scattering material comprises a borate compound selected from the group consisting of borax and colemanite.  
     
     
         9 . The product according to  claim 1 , wherein the infrared absorbing and scattering material comprises hydrated alumina.  
     
     
         10 . The product according to  claim 1 , further comprising a binder selected from the group consisting of thermosetting polymers, thermoplastic polymers, and inorganic compounds.  
     
     
         11 . The product according to  claim 1 , wherein the infrared absorbing and scattering material absorbs infrared radiation having a wavelength in a range of 4 to 40 μm.  
     
     
         12 . The product according to  claim 11 , wherein the infrared absorbing and scattering material absorbs infrared radiation having a wavelength in a range of 6 to 8 μm.  
     
     
         13 . Use of an infrared absorbing and scattering material comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of carbonate compounds, borate compounds, and alumina compounds to improve the thermal resistance of a thermal insulation product comprising fibers, the infrared absorbing and scattering material being dispersed on the fibers, wherein the product further comprises a porous structure.  
     
     
         14 . Use of an infrared absorbing and scattering material comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of carbonate compounds and alumina compounds to improve the thermal resistance at a temperature of 300° C. or more of a thermal insulation product comprising fibers, the infrared absorbing and scattering material being dispersed on the fibers, wherein the product further comprises a porous structure.  
     
     
         15 . Use of an infrared absorbing and scattering material comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of carbonate compounds and alumina compounds to improve the thermal resistance at a temperature of 400° C. or more of a thermal insulation product comprising fibers, the infrared absorbing and scattering material being dispersed on the fibers, wherein the product further comprises a porous structure.  
     
     
         16 . A method of forming a thermal insulation product, the method comprising dispersing on fibers an infrared absorbing and scattering material comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of carbonate compounds, borate compounds, and alumina compounds; and 
 forming the fibers into a porous structure.    
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the infrared absorbing and scattering material comprises calcium carbonate.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the dispersing comprises soaking or spraying the fibers with a liquid mixture containing the infrared absorbing and scattering material.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the infrared absorbing and scattering material is suspended in the liquid mixture.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the infrared absorbing and scattering material is dispersed on the fibers after the fibers are formed into the porous structure.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the dispersing comprises mixing the infrared absorbing and scattering material and the fibers.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the dispersing comprises 
 mixing the infrared absorbing and scattering material and the fibers;    heating the infrared absorbing and scattering material; and    binding the fibers together with the infrared absorbing and scattering material.    
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the mixing comprises sucking or blowing a dry powder of the infrared absorbing and scattering material into the porous structure.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the dispersing comprises mixing the infrared absorbing and scattering material, the fibers, and a binder.  
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the dispersing comprises 
 mixing the infrared absorbing and scattering material and the fibers with a binder;    heating the binder; and    binding the fibers and the infrared absorbing and scattering material together with the binder.    
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the mixing comprises sucking or blowing the binder and a dry powder of the infrared absorbing and scattering material into the porous structure.  
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the porous structure is nonwoven.  
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the fibers are inorganic.  
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the fibers comprise a glass.  
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the infrared absorbing and scattering material comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of carbonate compounds and alumina compounds.  
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising forming the porous structure into a pipe section comprising the infrared absorbing and scattering material and the fibers.  
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein the infrared absorbing and scattering material is dispersed on the fibers before the porous structure is formed into the pipe section.