Building Insulation

Abstract

A building structure containing a building envelope that defines an interior is provided. The building structure includes building insulation positioned adjacent to a surface of the building envelope, the interior, or a combination thereof. The building insulation may include a porous polymeric material that is formed from a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a matrix polymer. A microinclusion additive and nanoinclusion additive may also be dispersed within the continuous phase in the form of discrete domains, wherein a porous network is defined in the material that includes a plurality of nanopores having an average cross-sectional dimension of about 800 nanometers or less.

1 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . Building insulation for use in a residential or commercial building structure, wherein the building insulation includes a porous polymeric material that is formed from a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a matrix polymer, and further wherein a microinclusion additive and nanoinclusion additive are dispersed within the continuous phase in the form of discrete domains, wherein a porous network is defined in the material that includes a plurality of nanopores having an average cross-sectional dimension of about 800 nanometers or less. 
     
     
         46 . The building insulation of  claim 45 , wherein the polymeric material exhibits a water vapor transmission rate of about 300 g/m 2 -24 hours or more, thermal conductivity of about 0.40 watts per meter-kelvin or less, and/or hydrohead value of about 50 centimeters or more. 
     
     
         47 . The building insulation of  claim 45 , wherein the microinclusion additive includes a polyolefin. 
     
     
         48 . The building insulation of  claim 45 , wherein the nanoinclusion additive includes a polyepoxide. 
     
     
         49 . The building insulation of  claim 45 , wherein the microinclusion additive constitutes from about 1 wt. % to about 30 wt. % of the composition, based on the weight of the continuous phase. 
     
     
         50 . The building insulation of  claim 45 , wherein the nanoinclusion additive constitutes from about 0.05 wt. % to about 20 wt. % of the composition, based on the weight of the continuous phase. 
     
     
         51 . The building insulation of  claim 45 , wherein the thermoplastic composition further comprises an interphase modifier. 
     
     
         52 . The building insulation of  claim 45 , wherein the porous network further includes micropores having an average cross-sectional dimension of from about 0.5 to about 30 micrometers. 
     
     
         53 . The building insulation of  claim 52 , wherein the aspect ratio of the micropores is from about 1 to about 30. 
     
     
         54 . The building insulation of  claim 45 , wherein the microinclusion additive is in the form of micro-scale domains and the nanoinclusion additive is in the form of nano-scale domains, wherein the micro-scale domains have an average cross-sectional dimension of from about 0.5 to about 250 micrometers and the nano-scale domains have an average cross-sectional dimension of from about 1 nanometer to about 500 nanometers. 
     
     
         55 . The building insulation of  claim 45 , wherein the insulation is formed entirely from the polymeric material. 
     
     
         56 . The building insulation of  claim 45 , further comprising an additional layer of material. 
     
     
         57 . The building insulation of  claim 45 , wherein the insulation is in the form of a panel. 
     
     
         58 . The building insulation of  claim 45 , wherein the insulation is in the form of a wrap. 
     
     
         59 . The building insulation of  claim 45 , wherein the total pore volume of the polymeric material is from about 15% to about 80% per cubic centimeter. 
     
     
         60 . The building insulation of  claim 45 , wherein nanopores constitute about 20 vol. % or more of the total pore volume of the polymeric material. 
     
     
         61 . The building insulation of  claim 45 , wherein the continuous phase constitutes from about 60 wt. % to about 99 wt. % of the thermoplastic composition. 
     
     
         62 . The building insulation of  claim 45 , wherein the matrix polymer includes a polyester or polyolefin. 
     
     
         63 . The polymeric material of  claim 45 , wherein the polymeric material is a film or a layer of a film. 
     
     
         64 . The polymeric material of  claim 45 , wherein the polymeric material is a fibrous material or a layer or component of a fibrous material. 
     
     
         65 . A building structure comprising a building envelope that defines an interior, the building structure further comprising the building insulation of  claim 45 , which is positioned adjacent to a surface of the building envelope, the interior, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         66 . The building structure of  claim 65 , wherein the building insulation is positioned adjacent to a surface of the building envelope. 
     
     
         67 . The building structure of  claim 65 , wherein the building insulation is positioned adjacent to an exterior wall, roof, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         68 . The building structure of  claim 67 , wherein the building insulation is also positioned adjacent to an exterior covering. 
     
     
         69 . The building structure of  claim 65 , wherein the building insulation is positioned adjacent to a surface of the interior. 
     
     
         70 . The building structure of  claim 65 , wherein the building insulation is positioned adjacent to an interior wall, floor, ceiling, door, or a combination thereof.