Multi-layer insulation composite material including bandgap material, storage container using same, and related methods
First Claim
1. A multi-layer insulation (MLI) composite material, comprising:
- a first thermally-reflective layer;
a second thermally-reflective layer spaced from the first thermally-reflective layer, at least one of the first or second thermally-reflective layers including bandgap material that is reflective to infrared electromagnetic radiation and transmissive to at least one of visible electromagnetic radiation or radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation, wherein the bandgap material includes at least one of a photonic crystal, a semiconductor material that exhibits an electronic bandgap, or a material that exhibits both an electronic bandgap and at least one photonic bandgap; and
a region between the first and second thermally-reflective layers that impedes heat conduction between the first and second thermally-reflective layers, wherein the region is at least partially evacuated or includes at least one of a low thermal conductivity aerogel, a low thermal conductivity foam, or a low thermal conductivity mass of fibers.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a multi-layer insulation (MLI) composite material includes a first thermally-reflective layer and a second thermally-reflective layer spaced from the first thermally-reflective layer. At least one of the first or second thermally-reflective layers includes bandgap material that is reflective to infrared electromagnetic radiation. A region between the first and second thermally-reflective layers impedes heat conduction between the first and second thermally-reflective layers. Other embodiments include a storage container including a container structure that may be at least partially formed from such MLI composite materials, and methods of using such MLI composite materials.
104 Citations
42 Claims
-
1. A multi-layer insulation (MLI) composite material, comprising:
-
a first thermally-reflective layer; a second thermally-reflective layer spaced from the first thermally-reflective layer, at least one of the first or second thermally-reflective layers including bandgap material that is reflective to infrared electromagnetic radiation and transmissive to at least one of visible electromagnetic radiation or radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation, wherein the bandgap material includes at least one of a photonic crystal, a semiconductor material that exhibits an electronic bandgap, or a material that exhibits both an electronic bandgap and at least one photonic bandgap; and a region between the first and second thermally-reflective layers that impedes heat conduction between the first and second thermally-reflective layers, wherein the region is at least partially evacuated or includes at least one of a low thermal conductivity aerogel, a low thermal conductivity foam, or a low thermal conductivity mass of fibers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A storage container, comprising:
a container structure defining at least one storage chamber, the container structure configured to allow ingress of an object into the at least one storage chamber and egress of the object from the at least one storage chamber, the container structure including multi-layer insulation (MLI) composite material having at least one thermally reflective layer including bandgap material that is reflective to infrared electromagnetic radiation, wherein the bandgap material includes at least one of a photonic crystal, a semiconductor material that exhibits an electronic bandgap, or a material that exhibits both an electronic bandgap and at least one photonic bandgap. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
Specification