Particulate insulation materials

Abstract

A particulate insulation comprises a plurality of particles. Each of the particles has a density of at least about 1 g/cm 3 and includes a material that is viscoelastic, elastomeric, and/or polymeric. The particles are substantially non-toxic, non-hygroscopic, odorless, and resistant to volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.

1 . An insulation comprising: 
 a plurality of free-flowing particles, each of the particles having a density of at least about 1 g/cm 3  and including a material, the material being at least one of a viscoelastic, elastomeric, or polymeric material, the particles being substantially non-toxic, non-hygroscopic, odorless, and resistant to volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.    
   
   
       2 . The insulation of  claim 1 , the material being selected from the group consisting of a crumb rubber, a reground polymer, a recycled polymer, a virgin polymer, and blends thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The insulation of  claim 1 , the particles comprising crumb rubber having an average particle diameter of about 0.04 mm to about 25 mm.  
   
   
       4 . The insulation of  claim 1 , each particle including a coating that encapsulates the material of each particle, the coating being substantially impermeable and mitigating emission of odor and VOCs from the material.  
   
   
       5 . The insulation of  claim 4 , the coating being substantially free of voids and comprising less than about 20% by volume of the particles.  
   
   
       6 . The insulation of  claim 5 , the coating being selected from the group consisting of a coupling agent, a urethane, an epoxy, an acrylic, a silicone, a latex, a water reducible resin, and blends thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The insulation of  claim 1 , the particles further including at least one of a fungicide, insecticide, mildewcide, bactericide, colorant, flame retardant, radiation absorber, or anti-blocking agent.  
   
   
       8 . The insulation of  claim 1 , the particles further including a filler in an amount effective to provide each particle with a density greater than about 1 gram/cm 3 .  
   
   
       9 . The insulation of  claim 8 , the filler being selected from the group consisting of talc, glass beads, dolomite, calcium carbonate, glass microspheres, fly ash, clay, silica, silicate, perlite, vermiculite, aluminum hydrate, and barium sulfate.  
   
   
       10 . The insulation of  claim 1  having an R-value of at least about 2.0 per inch and an STC factor of at least about 20.  
   
   
       11 . The insulation of  claim 1 , being provided in a coating composition or fluid carrier system.  
   
   
       12 . The insulation of  claim 1 , being provided in a mastic.  
   
   
       13 . The insulation of  claim 1 , being capable of damping, attenuating, or isolating at least one of vibrational energy, acoustic energy, thermal energy, electromagnetic energy, or radio waves.  
   
   
       14 . An assembly including an insulation: the insulation comprising a plurality of free-flowing particles, each of the particles having a density of at least about 1 g/cm 3  and including a material, the material being at least one of a viscoelastic, elastomeric, or polymeric material, the particles being substantially non-toxic, non-hygroscopic, odorless, and resistant to volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.  
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , the material being selected from the group consisting of a crumb rubber, a reground polymer, a recycled polymer, a virgin polymer, and blends thereof.  
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 14 , each particle including a coating that encapsulates the material of each particle, the coating being substantially impermeable and mitigating emission of odor and VOCs from the at least one of viscoelastic, elastomeric, or polymeric material.  
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , the coating being substantially free of voids and being selected from the group consisting of a coupling agent, a urethane, an epoxy, an acrylic, a silicone, a latex, water reducible resins, and blends thereof.  
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 14 , the insulation further including at least one of a fungicide, insecticide, mildewcide, bactericide, colorant, flame retardant, radiation absorber, or anti-blocking agent.  
   
   
       19 . The assembly of  claim 14 , the insulation having an R-value of at least about 2.0 per inch and a STC factor of at least about 20.  
   
   
       20 . The assembly of  claim 14 , being capable of damping, attenuating, or isolating at least one of vibrational energy, acoustic energy, thermal energy, electromagnetic energy, or radio waves.  
   
   
       21 . The assembly of  claim 14 , the insulation material being provided in a coating composition or fluid carrier system, the coating composition or fluid carrier system being capable of adhering to a surface of the structural assembly.  
   
   
       22 . A coating composition comprising: 
 a plurality of free-flowing particles, each of the particles having a density of at least about 1 g/cm 3 , an average particle size of about 0.04 mm to about 4.0 mm and including a material selected from the group consisting of a crumb rubber, a reground polymer, a recycled polymer, a virgin polymer, and blends thereof, the coating composition being capable of damping, attenuating, or isolating at least one of vibrational energy, acoustic energy, thermal energy, electromagnetic energy, or radio waves.    
   
   
       23 . The coating composition of  claim 22 , further including at least one of a fungicide, insecticide, mildewcide, bactericide, colorant, flame retardant, radiation absorber, or anti-blocking agent.  
   
   
       24 . The coating composition of  claim 23 , the particles further including a filler selected from the group consisting of talc, glass beads, dolomite, calcium carbonate, glass microspheres, fly ash, clay, silica, silicate, perlite, vermiculite, aluminum hydrate, barium sulfate, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       25 . The coating composition of  claim 23 , having a viscosity sufficient to allow the coating composition to be sprayed on a surface of an assembly.