Title: Thermal Storage Gelatinous Triblock Copolymer Elastomer Particles in Polyurethane Flexible Foams

 Number/Link: US2013/295371

Applicant/Assignee: PETERSON CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY

Publication date: 07-11-2013

“Gist”:  Particles of  “phase change gels” prepared from plasticized styrenic TPEs and conventional PCMs are incorporated into polyurethane or latex flexible foams

Why it is interesting: A conventional phase change material (PCM) selected from alkanes, PEGs, hydrated salts ect. with a transition temperature between 20 and 35°C is melt-blended with a plasticized styrenic triblock copolymer like SBS, SIS, SEBS etc. to form a “phase change gel”. The gel is then comminuted and added to a flexible foam forming composition in an amount of about 30 pphp. The resulting foams have an increased thermal conductivity which together with the temperature buffering properties of the PCM improves thermal comfort. The flexible foams are useful in application such as matresses, pillows, automotive cushioning, shoe inserts, medical foams and the like. In my opinion especially useful for viscoleastic (“memory”) foams which are known to suffer from thermal discomfort problems.

Effect of “gel PCM” on heating rate of flexible foam according to the invention.