Noise insulating member having low degree of water and oil absorbency

• US 6,237,717 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2000
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries Limited
• Inventors: Osanai, Shinsuke, Nishida, Kiyomi
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): San Martin, Edgardo
• Application Number:
  US09/493,706
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 181/294, 181/210, 181/211, 181/198, 181/204, 181/205, 181/284, 181/296, 106/2, 252/62, 252/62.3 Q, 428/411.1, 428/421, 428/423.1, 264/50, 264/51, 264/54, 264/331.19
• US Class Current: 181/294
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0838 for engine compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0861 for covering undersurfaces of vehicles, e.g. wheel houses
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2205/05 Open cells, i.e. more than 50% of the pores are open
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2375/04 Polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 9/0019 halogenated
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/08 from polyethers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 91/06 Waxes
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 77/11 Thermal or acoustic insulation
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 77/13 Acoustic insulation
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/162 Selection of materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31551 Of polyamidoester [polyurethane, polyisocyanate, polycarbamate, etc.]

Abstract

A noise insulating member having a low degree of water absorbency and a low degree of oil absorbency. The noise insulating member includes a polyurethane foam obtained by reaction of an organic polyisocyanate component and a polyol component in the presence of a fluorine-containing surfactant, and having a cellular network having cells and communication holes which communicate with said cells. The communication holes have respective diameters each of which is not larger than 60 μm.

Claims

1. A noise insulating member having a low degree of water absorbency and a low degree of oil absorbency, said noise insulating member comprising:

a polyurethane foam obtained by reaction of an organic polyisocyanate component and a polyol component in the presence of a fluorine-containing surfactant, and having a cellular network having cells and communication holes which communicate with said cells and which have respective diameters each of which is not larger than 60 μ

m.

2. A noise insulating member according to claim 1, wherein said each of the diameters of said communication holes is not larger than 20 μ

m.

3. A noise insulating member according to claim 1, wherein said polyurethane foam has a gas permeability which permits a rate of gas flow therethrough of not higher than 1000 mL/min.

4. A noise insulating member according to claim 1, wherein said fluorine-containing surfactant is added to a reaction system of said organic polyisocyanate component and said polyol component, for forming said polyurethane foam, such that an amount of said fluorine-containing surfactant is 0.1-5.0 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of a polyurethane resin which is produced as a result of the reaction of said organic polyisocyanate component and said polyol component.

5. A noise insulating member according to claim 1, wherein said fluorine-containing surfactant includes a fluoro-aliphatic group having 3-20 carbon atoms.

6. A noise insulating member according to claim 1, wherein said fluorine-containing surfactant includes a fluoro-aliphatic group having 6-12 carbon atoms.

7. A noise insulating member according to claim 1, wherein said fluorine-containing surfactant includes a perfluoroalkyl group.

8. A noise insulating member according to claim 1, wherein said fluorine-containing surfactant includes an organic group having a high degree of affinity with respect to a polyurethane resin which is produced as a result of the reaction of said organic polyisocyanate component and said polyol component.

9. A noise insulating member according to claim 1, wherein said fluorine-containing surfactant further includes a polyoxyalkylene group.

10. A noise insulating member according to claim 1, wherein said fluorine-containing surfactant includes a fluoro-aliphatic group having 3-20 carbon atoms, and an organic group having a high degree of affinity with respect to a polyurethane resin which is produced as a result of the reaction of said organic polyisocyanate component and said polyol component.

11. A noise insulating member according to claim 1, wherein said fluorine-containing surfactant has an average molecular weight of 500-1,000,000.

12. A noise insulating member for use in an automotive vehicle, comprising:

the polyurethane foam defined in claim 1, wherein said polyurethane foam has a gas permeability which permits a rate of gas flow therethrough of not higher than 1000 mL/min.

13. A noise insulating cover provided in an engine room of an automotive vehicle so as to be positioned adjacent to an engine of the automotive vehicle, for reducing radiation of noise from the engine, said noise insulating cover comprising:

the polyurethane foam defined in claim 1, wherein said polyurethane foam has a gas permeability which permits a rate of gas flow therethrough of not higher than 1000 mL/min.

14. A spacer provided in an engine room of an automotive vehicle so as to be positioned in a space between an engine of the automotive vehicle and accessories which are located adjacent to the engine, for minimizing generation of standing wave in the space, said spacer comprising:

the polyurethane foam defined in claim 1, wherein said polyurethane foam has a gas permeability which permits a rate of gas flow therethrough of not higher than 1000 mL/min.

15. A noise insulating member provided in a hull of a hydro-bike, for reducing radiation of noise from an engine of the hydro-bike, said noise insulating member comprising:

the polyurethane foam defined in claim 1, wherein said polyurethane foam has a gas permeability which permits a rate of gas flow therethrough of not higher than 1000 mL/min.