Loose fill thermal insulation containing supplemental infrared radiation absorbing material

Abstract

A thermal insulation product includes infrared radiation absorbing and scattering material dispersed on a loose fill. The infrared absorbing material can include borates, carbonates, nitrates and nitrites of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals.

1 - 30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . A thermal insulation product, comprising: 
 a loose fill; and    at least one infrared absorbing or scattering material selected from the group consisting of borate, carbonate, nitrate and nitrite salts with at least one alkali or alkaline earth metal dispersed in the loose fill,    wherein the at least one infrared absorbing or scattering material comprises particles having a mean diameter ranging from 2 to 10 μm.    
   
   
       32 . The product according to  claim 31 , wherein the at least one infrared absorbing or scattering material is at least one alkali metal or alkaline earth metal carbonate.  
   
   
       33 . The product according to  claim 31 , wherein the mean diameter of the particles ranges from 3 to 6 μm.  
   
   
       34 . The product according to  claim 31 , wherein the content of IR absorbing or scattering material in the loose fill ranges from 1 to 40% by wt.  
   
   
       35 . The product according to  claim 31 , wherein the loose fill comprises fibers selected from the group consisting of cellulose-containing fibers, synthetic polymer fibers, rock wool fibers, and glass fibers.  
   
   
       36 . The product according to  claim 31 , wherein the loose fill comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of shredded recycled newspapers and ground recycled newspapers.  
   
   
       37 . The product according to  claim 32 , wherein the at least one carbonate is dispersed uniformly in the loose fill.  
   
   
       38 . The product according to  claim 37 , wherein the at least one carbonate is calcium carbonate.  
   
   
       39 . The product according to  claim 31 , further comprising a binder that bonds the at least one infrared absorbing or scattering material to the loose fill.  
   
   
       40 . The product according to  claim 32 , wherein the at least one carbonate absorbs infrared radiation having a wavelength in the range of 4 to 40 μm.  
   
   
       41 . The product according to  claim 31 , wherein the loose fill is in the form of at least one of flakes, powders, granules or nodules.  
   
   
       42 . The product according to  claim 31 , wherein the loose fill is at least one inorganic material selected from the group consisting of diatomaceous silica, perlite, vermiculite, silica aerogel, calcium silicate, opacified colloidal alumina, alumina bubbles, zirconia bubbles, and granulated charcoal.  
   
   
       43 . A thermal insulation product, comprising: 
 a loose fill; and    at least one carbonate as particles have a mean diameter ranging from 2 to 10 μm dispersed in the loose fill, wherein the particles of loose fill having carbonate particles adhered thereto, upon compressing are dimensional so as to have an equivalent sphere with a diameter of less than 3 cm, but upon decompression and expansion are dimensional so as to fit within a sphere having a diameter ranging from 0.1 to 4 cm.    
   
   
       44 . A thermal insulation product prepared by a process, comprising: 
 dispersing at least one particulate infrared absorbing or scattering material into a loose insulation fill material as it is blown into a zone of a construction object that is to contain insulating material, wherein the particulate infrared absorbing or scattering material is at least one material selected from the group consisting of borate, carbonate, nitrate and nitrite salts with at least one alkali or alkaline earth metal, wherein the at least one infrared absorbing or scattering material comprises particles having a mean diameter ranging from 2 to 10 μm.    
   
   
       45 . A thermal insulation product prepared by a process, comprising: 
 mixing mineral oil alone or in combination with a binder and at least one particulate infrared absorbing or scattering material elected from the group consisting of borate, carbonate, nitrate and nitrite salts with at least one alkali or alkaline earth metal, wherein the at least one infrared absorbing or scattering material comprises particles having a mean diameter ranging from 2 to 10 μm, with a loose fill material, thereby dispersing the mineral oil alone or optionally with said binder and the infrared absorbing or scattering material in the loose fill.    
   
   
       46 . An object of construction having zones that are thermally insulated, comprising: 
 an object of construction having zones that require thermal insulation and loose insulating material filled therein, wherein the insulating material is a loose fill in which is dispersed at least one infrared absorbing or scattering material selected from the group consisting of borate, carbonate, nitrate and nitrite salts with at least one alkali or alkaline earth metal, wherein the at least one infrared absorbing or scattering material comprises particles having a mean diameter ranging from 2 to 10 μm.