Thermal insulation panel for buildings

Abstract

The thermal insulation panel for buildings is an insulation panel for houses, offices and other edifices, the panel having variable thermal insulation properties that depend upon ambient temperature conditions. The thermal insulation panel for buildings includes a thermally insulating core formed from foam, plastic or the like, and a pair of outer layers that are each formed from a functionally graded material. The thermal insulation core is sandwiched between the pair of outer layers. The functionally graded material may be a laminate in the form of a dense ceramic layer formed of Al 2 O 3 and ZrO 2 and a nickel layer, or may be formed from boron nanoribbons or the like.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A thermal insulation panel for buildings, comprising:
 a thermally insulation core; and   a pair of outer layers, each of the outer layers being formed from a functionally graded material, the thermal insulation core being sandwiched between the pair of outer layers.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal insulation panel for buildings as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each said outer layer comprises a ceramic layer and a metallic layer. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal insulation panel for buildings as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the ceramic layer comprises Al 2 O 3  and ZrO 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The thermal insulation panel for buildings as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the metallic layer comprises nickel. 
     
     
         5 . The thermal insulation panel for buildings as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the thermal insulation core has a honeycomb configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The thermal insulation panel for buildings as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the thermal insulation core comprises a hollow housing having an inlet port and an outlet port formed therethrough, the hollow housing being adapted for having a phase changing fluid circulated therethrough. 
     
     
         7 . The thermal insulation panel for buildings as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising a hollow circulation coil fluidly connecting the inlet port to the outlet port such that the phase changing fluid passes through the hollow circulation coil. 
     
     
         8 . The thermal insulation panel for buildings as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the functionally graded material comprises boron nanoribbons. 
     
     
         9 . A thermal insulation panel for buildings, comprising:
 a thermal insulation core; and   a pair of outer layers, each of the outer layers being formed from a functionally graded material, the thermal insulation core being sandwiched between the pair of outer layers, each of the outer layers having a ceramic layer formed of Al 2 O 3  and ZrO 2  and a nickel layer.   
     
     
         10 . The thermal insulation panel for buildings as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the thermal insulation core has a honeycomb configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The thermal insulation panel for buildings as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the thermal insulation core comprises a hollow housing having an inlet port and an outlet port formed therethrough, the hollow housing being adapted for having a phase changing fluid circulated therethrough. 
     
     
         12 . The thermal insulation panel for buildings as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a hollow circulation coil fluidly connecting the inlet port to the outlet port such that the phase changing fluid passes through the hollow circulation coil. 
     
     
         13 . A thermal insulation panel for buildings, comprising:
 a thermal insulation core; and   a pair of outer layers, each of the outer layers being formed from a functionally graded material, the thermal insulation core being sandwiched between the pair of outer layers, the functionally graded material including boron nanoribbons.   
     
     
         14 . The thermal insulation panel for buildings as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the thermal insulation core has a honeycomb configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The thermal insulation panel for buildings as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the thermal insulation core comprises a hollow housing having an inlet port and an outlet port formed therethrough, the hollow housing being adapted for having a phase changing fluid circulated therethrough. 
     
     
         16 . The thermal insulation panel for buildings as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising a hollow circulation coil fluidly connecting the inlet port to the outlet port such that the phase changing fluid passes through the hollow circulation coil.