Flexible insulating structures and methods of making and using same

Abstract

A flexible insulating structure includes a batting and a mixture of aerogel-containing particles and a binder, the aerogel-containing particles impregnating at least one layer of the batting. A method for preparing a flexible insulating structure comprises applying a mixture including aerogel-containing particles and a binder to a batting having one or more batting layers; and drying or allowing the binder to dry, thereby forming the flexible insulating structure.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method for preparing a flexible insulating structure, the method comprising:
 applying a mixture including aerogel-containing particles and a binder to a batting having one or more batting layers; and   drying or allowing the binder to dry, thereby forming the flexible insulating structure.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the mixture further contains a surfactant. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the mixture is a slurry. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the batting is immersed or soaked in the slurry. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the immersion or soaking is conducted in the presence of agitation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the agitation is by stirring or shaking. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the agitation is conducted for a time interval that is equal to or less than a time used to conduct the immersion or soaking. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the mixture is applied to the batting by pouring, spraying, painting, soaking or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the entire flexible insulating structure is impregnated with aerogel-containing particles. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the flexible insulating structure is partially impregnated or painted with aerogel-containing particles. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising applying a cover layer to an outer face of the batting. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising applying a cover layer to an outer face of the flexible insulating structure. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the flexible insulating structure further includes at least one internal non-batting layer. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . An article comprising a flexible insulating structure prepared by the method of  claim 13 . 
     
     
         29 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the aerogel-containing particles are prefabricated