Multi-layer insulation composite material including bandgap material, storage container using same, and related methods
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- at least partially enclosing an object with multi-layer insulation (MLI) composite material to insulate the object from a surrounding environment, the MLI composite material including,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, wherein the bandgap material includes at least one of a semiconductor material that exhibits an electronic bandgap less than about 1.3 eV 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, 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.
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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.
121 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
at least partially enclosing an object with multi-layer insulation (MLI) composite material to insulate the object from a surrounding environment, the MLI composite material including, 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, wherein the bandgap material includes at least one of a semiconductor material that exhibits an electronic bandgap less than about 1.3 eV 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, 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)
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14. A method, comprising:
storing an object in a storage container, the storage containing including, a container structure defining at least one storage chamber, the container structure configured to allow ingress of the 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, the bandgap material including at least one of a semiconductor material that exhibits an electronic bandgap less than about 1.3 eV or a material that exhibits both an electronic bandgap and at least one photonic bandgap. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
Specification