Super-coolable composition having long-duration phase change capability, process for preparation of same, process for super-cooling same and articles comprising same

Abstract

An article according to one embodiment of the disclosures herein includes a cooling core body, a cooling member and a super-coolable composition. The cooling core body has a core cavity therein. The cooling member disposed in the core cavity. A super-coolable composition is disposed within the core cavity encapsulating at least a portion of the cooling member.

1 . A container, comprising: 
 a container body including a cooling core body having a super-coolable composition disposed within a core cavity of the cooling core body, wherein the core body defines a container cavity for having articles disposed therein; and    an insulated container cover mountable on the container body and capable of covering the container cavity.    
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the cooling core body includes a first cooling core shell and a second cooling core shell attached to the first cooling core shell; and    the core cavity is defined between the a first cooling core shell and the second cooling core shell.    
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a cooling member disposed within the core cavity and essentially encapsulated within the super-coolable composition.    
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a cooling member disposed within the core cavity and essentially encapsulated within the super-coolable composition.    
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4  wherein the cooling member includes a plurality of cooling member segments.  
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 4  wherein the cooling member is a multi-pass cooling member.  
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 4  wherein the cooling member includes a first cooling member coupling and a second cooling member coupling.  
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an insulating shell having the cooling core body disposed therein.    
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an insulating insert disposed within the cooling core body.    
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9  wherein: 
 the cooling core body includes a first cooling core shell and a second cooling core shell attached to the first cooling core shell; and    the core cavity is defined between the first cooling core shell and the insulating shell.    
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a cooling member disposed within the core cavity and essentially encapsulated within the super-coolable composition.    
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the super-coolable composition is made by a process comprising: 
 forming a first mixture including water and ethanol, wherein the first mixture has a first pH level;    adjusting the pH level of the first mixture to have a second pH level different than the first pH level; and    combining a water-soluble binding agent with the first mixture to form a second mixture.    
     
     
         13 . A cooling core assembly, comprising: 
 a cooling core body having a core cavity therein;    a cooling member disposed in the core cavity; and    a super-coolable composition disposed within the core cavity, the super-coolable composition encapsulating at least a portion of the cooling member.    
     
     
         14 . The cooling core assembly of  claim 13  wherein: 
 the cooling core body includes a first cooling core shell and a second cooling core shell attached to the first cooling core shell; and    the core cavity is defined between the a first cooling core shell and the 5 second cooling core shell.    
     
     
         15 . The cooling core assembly of  claim 13  wherein the cooling member includes a plurality of cooling member segments.  
     
     
         16 . The cooling core assembly of  claim 15  wherein the cooling member is a multi-pass cooling member.  
     
     
         17 . The cooling core assembly of  claim 13  wherein the cooling member includes a first cooling member coupling and a second cooling member coupling.  
     
     
         18 . The cooling core assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 an insulating shell substantially encompassing an exterior surface of the cooling core body.    
     
     
         19 . The cooling core assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 an insulating insert substantially encompassing an interior surface of the cooling core body.    
     
     
         20 . The cooling core assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the super-coolable composition is made by a process comprising: 
 forming a first mixture including water and ethanol, wherein the first mixture has a first pH level;    adjusting the pH level of the first mixture to have a second pH level different than the first pH level; and    combining a water-soluble binding agent with the first mixture to form a second mixture.    
     
     
         21 . A process for super-cooling a super-coolable composition of an article, the process comprising: 
 attaching a cooling member of an article to a cooling unit of a cooling apparatus capable of super-cooling a cooling fluid, where in the cooling member is encapsulated within a super-coolable composition in a cooling core body of the article;    facilitating super-cooling of a cooling fluid within a tank of the cooling unit; and    circulating the cooling fluid through the cooling member after the cooling fluid achieves a prescribed super-cooled state.    
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 21  wherein facilitating super-cooling of a cooling fluid includes cooling the cooling fluid to a temperature of between about −20 degrees centigrade and −30 degrees centigrade.  
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 21  wherein facilitating super-cooling of a cooling fluid includes: 
 circulating the cooling fluid through a circulator immersed in the cooling fluid; and    passing the cooling fluid through a heat exchanging coil.    
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 21  wherein attaching the cooling member of the article to the cooling apparatus includes attaching the cooling member to a pump of a cooling unit.  
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 24  wherein circulating the cooling fluid through the cooling member after the cooling fluid achieves a prescribed super-cooled state includes pumping the cooling fluid, via the pump, from the tank through the cooling member and back to the tank.  
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 adjusting the velocity at which the cooling fluid is circulated through the cooling member to maintain a desired cooling fluid flow condition.