Title: METHOD FOR MAKING ORGANIC FOAM COMPOSITES CONTAINING AEROGEL PARTICLES
Number/Link: WO2013000861
Applicant/Assignee: Dow
Publication date: 3-01-2013
“Gist”: Polyurethane or polyisocyanurate (or -less preferred- extruded foams like EPS foams) are produced in the presence of aerogel particles impregnated with blowing agents resulting in composite foams with exceptional insulation properties.
Why it is interesting: The blowing agent evaporates during the reaction (or extrusion),expands the foam and prevents the aerogel particles of losing their porosity and low density. Already 0.1% w/w of the particles is claimed to have a significant impact on insulation properties. In the examples an HFC blowing agent is used together with aerogel particles with an average size of about 1mm.
It appears that composites of aerogels together with PU or PIR, but also with PS and rockwool e.g. are becoming an ever more important trend in insulation.
Aerogel (Wikipedia)
Innovation in Polyurethanes 