US 7,320,770 B2
Method for making a quasi-incompressible phase-change material, shear-thinned and with low heat conductivity
Angèle Chomard, Paris (France); Jean-François Argillier, Saint Cloud (France); and Jean-Claude Hipeaux, Colombes (France)
Assigned to Saipem S.A., Montigny-le-Bretonneux (France); and Institut Francais du Petrole, Rueil Malmaison Cedex (France)
Appl. No. 10/466,930
PCT Filed Feb. 04, 2002, PCT No. PCT/FR02/00405
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Nov. 05, 2003,
PCT Pub. No. WO02/062918, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 15, 2002.
Claims priority of application No. 01 01892 (FR), filed on Feb. 07, 2001; and application No. 01 01770 (FR), filed on Feb. 09, 2001.
Prior Publication US 2004/0092626 A1, May 13, 2004
Int. Cl. B29C 39/10 (2006.01); B29C 45/14 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 264—262  [264/299; 264/328.18; 252/70] 23 Claims
 
1. Process for manufacturing a material for thermal insulation based on phase change material (PCM), having low thermal conductivity, characterised in that it comprises combining a phase change material with a texturing agent chosen to greatly reduce the thermal convection at a temperature higher than the fusion temperature of the phase change material and whose gelling or viscosifying capacity drops temporarily under shearing so as to give the phase change material a consistency of a gel when at rest and obtain fluidification under shearing.