Insulating composite materials and methods for producing and using same

Abstract

A composite material wherein one or more backing materials are disposed in generally contiguous relation to an insulating material. Methods for forming composite materials comprising securing one or more backing materials to an insulating material such that the backing materials are in generally contiguous relation to the insulating material. Methods for using the composite materials of the present invention wherein a structure is wrapped with a composite material of the present invention.

1 . An article comprising: 
 an insulating sheet comprising a material selected from open-cell foam and close-cell foam, wherein: 
 the close-cell foam defines a plurality of perforations through the close-cell foam; and  
 the insulating sheet allows water vapor to pass through the insulating sheet; and  
   a backing sheet secured to the insulating sheet in generally contiguous relation to the insulating sheet, wherein the backing sheet allows water vapor to pass through the backing sheet while preventing liquid water from passing through the backing sheet.    
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the insulating sheet comprises open-cell foam.  
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the insulating sheet comprises close-cell foam.  
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the backing sheet comprises high density polyethylene.  
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the backing sheet comprises a thermoplastic polymer.  
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the backing sheet comprises an olefinic polymer.  
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 6  wherein the olefinic polymer comprises a polymer selected from one or more of polyethylene and polypropylene.  
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the backing sheet comprises thermoplastic fibers.  
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 8  wherein the thermoplastic fibers comprise olefinic polymer fibers.  
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 9  wherein the olefinic polymer fibers are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene fibers and polypropylene fibers.  
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 1  wherein portions of the backing sheet and the insulating sheet are adhesively secured to each other.  
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 1  wherein portions of the backing sheet are laminated to the insulating sheet.  
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the backing sheet comprises a non-woven polyester.  
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 1  further comprising an adhesive along at least a portion of the insulating sheet for securing the article to a structure.  
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 1  further comprising an adhesive along at least a portion of the backing sheet for securing the composite material to a structure.  
     
     
         16 - 45 . (Canceled).  
     
     
         46 . A method of forming the article of  claim 1  comprising the steps of: 
 providing the insulating sheet;    providing the backing sheet; and    securing the backing sheet generally superposed, contiguous relation to the insulating sheet.    
     
     
         47 . (Canceled).  
     
     
         48 . A method for insulating a structure comprising the step of at least partially wrapping the structure with the article of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the article is secured to the structure with an adhesive.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the structure comprises a building.