Alveolar multilayer structure having a metal coating

Abstract

A multilayer structure is disclosed, comprising: at least one first layer comprising a first polymer film that carries, on a first face, a metal deposit, the first face being a free face of the first layer; and at least one second layer comprising a second polymer film. The second layer is joined, in a plurality of junction zones, to the first layer on the first face carrying the metal deposit, the junction zones defining a region of contact between the first layer and the second layer, the first layer and the second layer forming at least one cell outside the contact region.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A thermally insulating structure comprising:
 a multi-layer film including a first polymer layer and a metallized layer; and   a second polymer layer joined to the multi-layer film by a plurality of disjoint zones, wherein the plurality of disjoint zones cause the second polymer layer to form a set of cells, wherein the multi-layer film forms a bottom of each cell of the set of cells and the second polymer layer forms a top of each cell of the set of cells, wherein an aperture is present in the top of each cell of the set of cells.   
     
     
         3 . The thermally insulating structure of  claim 2  wherein the second polymer layer includes a plurality of apertures in the top of each cell of the set of cells. 
     
     
         4 . The thermally insulating structure of  claim 2  wherein the aperture in each cell of the set of cells allows air to flow freely between each cell of the set of cells and an ambient environment. 
     
     
         5 . The thermally insulating structure of  claim 2  wherein the first polymer layer includes a plurality of apertures in each cell of the set of cells. 
     
     
         6 . The thermally insulating structure of  claim 2  wherein each cell of the set of cells has a rectangular geometry. 
     
     
         7 . The thermally insulating structure of  claim 2  wherein the second polymer layer is joined directly to the metallized layer at the plurality of disjoint zones. 
     
     
         8 . The thermally insulating structure of  claim 2  wherein a surface area of the second polymer layer is greater than a surface area of the multi-layer film. 
     
     
         9 . The thermally insulating structure of  claim 2  wherein each cell of the set of cells has four openings positioned between adjacent junction zones, wherein the four openings enable communication between each cell of the set of cells and four adjacent cells of the set of cells. 
     
     
         10 . The thermally insulating structure of  claim 9  wherein the thermally insulating structure further comprises:
 a flattened state wherein the second polymer layer is compressed against the multi-layer film; 
 a deployed state wherein the second polymer layer is separated from the multi-layer film by a volume of gas while remaining joined at the plurality of the disjoint zones; and 
 at least one side edge that remains open to an ambient environment in both the flattened state and the deployed state. 
 
     
     
         11 . A multi-layer polymer structure comprising:
 a first polymer layer; and   a second polymer layer joined to the first polymer layer by a plurality of disjoint zones, wherein the plurality of disjoint zones cause the second polymer layer to form a set of cells, wherein the first polymer layer forms a bottom of each cell of the set of cells and the second polymer layer forms a top of each cell in the set of cells, wherein an aperture is present in the top of each cell of the set of cells.   
     
     
         12 . The multi-layer polymer structure of  claim 11  wherein the aperture in each cell of the set of cells allows air to flow freely into the cell and flow freely out from the cell. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-layer polymer structure of  claim 11  further comprising a metallized layer disposed between the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-layer polymer structure of  claim 11  wherein the set of cells comprises a grid of rectangular cells. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-layer polymer structure of  claim 11 , wherein the first polymer layer has a plurality of apertures in each cell of the set of cells. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-layer polymer structure of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a flattened state wherein the second polymer layer is compressed against the first polymer layer; 
 a deployed state wherein the second polymer layer is separated from the first polymer layer by a volume of gas while remaining joined at the plurality of the disjoint zones; and 
 at least one side edge that remains open to an ambient environment in both the flattened state and the deployed state. 
 
     
     
         17 . The multi-layer polymer structure of  claim 11  wherein the set of cells have a rectangular geometry and the disjoint zones associated with a first cell of the set of cells are positioned only at one of more corners of the first cell. 
     
     
         18 . The multi-layer polymer structure of  claim 11  wherein the second polymer layer comprises a copolymer formed from ethylene and methacrylic acid. 
     
     
         19 . The multi-layer polymer structure of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a third polymer layer joined to the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer by the plurality of disjoint zones.