US 12,134,260 B2
Super insulating nano-spheres for appliance insulation and method for creating a super insulating nano-sphere material
Lakshya J. Deka, Mishawaka, IN (US); Rameet Singh Grewal, Pune (IN); and Andrea Olivani, Cassinetta (IT)
Assigned to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed by Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed on Aug. 24, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/455,038.
Application 16/126,097 is a division of application No. 14/961,929, filed on Dec. 8, 2015, granted, now 10,105,928, issued on Oct. 23, 2018.
Application 18/455,038 is a continuation of application No. 17/564,278, filed on Dec. 29, 2021, granted, now 11,787,151.
Application 17/564,278 is a continuation of application No. 16/852,672, filed on Apr. 20, 2020, granted, now 11,247,432, issued on Feb. 15, 2022.
Application 16/852,672 is a continuation of application No. 16/126,097, filed on Sep. 10, 2018, granted, now 10,661,527, issued on May 26, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0391047 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B32B 5/16 (2006.01); B29C 70/66 (2006.01); B32B 37/14 (2006.01); F25D 23/06 (2006.01); B29K 105/00 (2006.01); B29K 105/04 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC B32B 5/16 (2013.01) [F25D 23/062 (2013.01); B29C 70/66 (2013.01); B29K 2105/0076 (2013.01); B29K 2105/041 (2013.01); B29L 2031/7622 (2013.01); B32B 37/14 (2013.01); B32B 2307/102 (2013.01); B32B 2307/304 (2013.01); B32B 2509/10 (2013.01); F25D 2201/12 (2013.01); Y02B 40/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
 
1. An insulating material for an appliance insulating structure, the insulating material comprising:
a plurality of hollow nano-spheres, wherein each hollow nano-sphere of the plurality of hollow nano-spheres has a wall that defines an internal space that defines an internal diameter of from approximately 40 nanometers to approximately 900 nanometers; and
a fill material disposed within an interstitial space defined between the plurality of hollow nano-spheres, wherein the plurality of hollow nano-spheres define a plurality of nano-sphere formations, wherein each nano-sphere formation of the plurality of nano-sphere formations includes connected nano-spheres defining porous spaces between the connected nano-spheres, wherein the plurality of hollow nano-spheres are made from nano-particles of the insulating material, and wherein the nano-particles are made from at least one of soda-lime glass, borosilicate glass, fumed silica, precipitated silica, and powder aerogel.