The invention relates to micro-channeled and/or nano-channeled polymer compositions for structural and thermal insulation composites and methods of preparing the same. The composites can be tailored to achieve desired mechanical and thermal insulation properties.

A composite insulation batt is provided. The composite insulation batt includes a fiberglass insulation core within a sheath of closed cell plastic material and provides greatly increased insulating properties over conventional fiberglass insulation batts.

An insulating element for thermally insulating spaces, including closed cells, in which a first and a second group of closed cells are formed by first or second recesses in a first or second flat element and the first and the second flat elements form first or second connection regions between recesses adjacent to the edges of the openings, to which respectively a flat covering element closing the openings of a plurality of first recesses is bonded on a front side of the flat element. The second recesses are arranged between the first recesses on a rear side of the first flat element and the first recesses are arranged between the second recesses on a rear side of the second flat element such that the space remaining of the first and second recesses between the first and the second flat elements amounts to less than 50% of the space enclosed by the first and second recesses.

External thermal insulation composite systems described herein include a concrete or masonry wall and a multilayer thermal insulation board disposed on the concrete or masonry wall. The multilayer thermal insulation board includes at least one closed cell foam layer comprising polyurethane and polyisocyanurate having an open cell volume of less than 20% by volume according to ASTM D 6226 and at least one open cell foam layer comprising polyurethane and polyisocyanurate having an open cell volume of greater than 80% by volume according to ASTM D 6226.

The present disclosure provides a heat-shielding panel having a heat-shielding function and a heat-isolating function, and a prefabricated building constructed by arranging a plurality of heat-shielding panels adjacently. The heat-shielding panel (1) of the present disclosure includes a pair of sheets (10, 20) and an enclosed space (30). The pair of sheets (10, 20) are provided with an exposed surface respectively, and back faces of the pair of sheets (10, 20) are oppositely arranged at intervals. The pair of sheets (10, 20) are formed by heat-shielding sheets (12). The enclosed space is arranged between the pair of sheets (10, 20). The enclosed space is formed by sandwiching a spacer (31) between the pair of sheets (10, 20). A fluid such as air is enclosed in the enclosed space.

A fluid storage media includes a plurality of microspheres. Each microsphere includes a porous core with a porous core material and having an exterior surface. A stored fluid is within the porous core. A coating layer covers all of the exterior surface of the porous core. The coating layer includes a coating material which transitions from a first state to a second state, wherein in the first state the coating material is permeable to the stored fluid, and in the second state the material is impermeable to the stored fluid. The coating material in the second state is configured to encapsulate and maintain the stored fluid inside the porous core. A method of making a fluid storage media, a method of delivering a fluid and a method of delivering a biologically active fluid medication to a patient are also disclosed.

A variable thermal insulation assembly includes at least one array comprising a plurality of sheets of film, wherein the plurality of sheets are in a stacked arrangement and each sheet is bonded to an adjacent sheet along a plurality of longitudinally extending regions such that each pair of adjacent sheets form a plurality of longitudinally extending cavities between adjacent regions of the adjacent sheets, a support frame comprising end elements, wherein the support frame frames the plurality of sheets, wherein support frame is coupled to the array to support the array such that the array may transition between an expanded state in which the array is expanded, and a compressed state in which the array is compressed, within the plane of the frame along the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that the longitudinally extending cavities are expanded or compressed, wherein in the expanded state, the front edge conforms to one of the second end of the support frame or a second front edge of a second array to form a seal that inhibits air flow between the front edge and the one of the second end of the support frame or the second front edge of the second array.

A shell system for a building, facilitating internal bottom-up flow of air inside the shell system, the shell system includes a plurality of modular thermal panels, and connecting means for interconnecting the plurality of modular thermal panels or a portion thereof Each of the modular thermal panel includes an enclosed frame having two side faces, a top face and a bottom face, wherein two openings are formed in the frame's faces: a sealingly enclosed internal face and a sealingly enclosed external fac wherein an inner gap, filled with air, is formed between the internal face and the external face. At least one frame-opening is formed in each of the faces of the frame, allowing air to flow between adjacent modular thermal panels, that are sealingly interconnected, while allowing the inner air flow.

A method of forming a polyisocyanurate foam board includes providing a polyol and adding an isocyanate to the polyol to form a polyisocyanurate foam. A first inner surface of a first facer material is treated with a first flow of hydroxyl containing molecules. A second inner surface of a second facer material is treated with a second flow of hydroxyl containing molecules. The polyisocyanurate foam is coupled to the first treated inner surface and the second treated inner surface such that the polyisocyanurate is sandwiched between the first facer material and the second facer material, thereby exposing opposing outer surfaces of the polyisocyanurate foam to the hydroxyl containing molecules. A density of a medial portion of the polyisocyanurate foam is greater than a density of the polyisocyanurate at the opposing outer surfaces.

A device includes a connected array of cells formed in a stack of flexible sheets. Each pair of adjacent sheets in the stack includes a first sheet and a second sheet bonded together at multiple bond locations. Each sheet has an electrically conductive layer disposed on an electrically non-conductive layer, the conductive layer comprising an electrically conductive non-metal material. Each pair of adjacent sheets in the stack is arranged so that the non-conductive layer of each first sheet is between the conductive layers of the first and second sheets. The cells of the array reversibly transition between an open state and a closed state in response to an electric potential having a magnitude greater than a threshold value applied between the conductive layers of the first and second sheets.