Thermal signaling or marking device

Abstract

Disclosed herein are multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking systems, comprising at least one first part comprising at least one super-corroding alloy and at least one absorbent material, and at least one second part. The at least one first part and the at least second part must be kept separate until use, at which time they are combined and heat generation commences. Further disclosed herein are containment devices comprising such thermal signaling or marking systems.

1 . A multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system, comprising:
 at least one first part comprising at least one super-corroding alloy and at least one absorbent material; and   at least one second part comprising at least one component chosen from water,   an aqueous solution, at least one electrolyte, and mixtures of any of the foregoing;   wherein heat is emitted when the at least one first part and the at least one second part interact.   
     
     
         2 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one absorbent material is chosen from natural and synthetic polymeric absorbents, hydrocolloid/polysaccharide absorbents, cellulosic absorbents, gum and resin absorbents, inorganic absorbents, gel-forming fluid-interactive adhesive dressings, wool, cotton, lint, at least one super-absorbent polymer, and mixtures of any of the foregoing. 
     
     
         3 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one absorbent material comprises at least one super-absorbent polymer. 
     
     
         4 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one super-absorbent polymer is chosen from polyvinylpyrrolidones, sulfonated polystyrenes, sulfonated polyvinyltoluenes, poly-sulfoethyl acrylates, poly-2-hydroxyethyl acrylates, polyacrylates, hydrolyzed polyacrylamides and copolymers of acrylamide with acrylic acid, hydrocolloid absorbent materials, sodium polyacrylate, potassium polyacrylate, lithium polyacrylate, ammonium polyacrylate, and mixtures of any of the foregoing. 
     
     
         5 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one super-absorbent polymer comprises sodium polyacrylate. 
     
     
         6 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one super-absorbent polymer is present in an amount ranging from 0.5% to 90% by weight, based on the dry weight of the at least one first part. 
     
     
         7 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one super-absorbent polymer is present in an amount ranging from about 20% to 30% by weight, based on the dry weight of the at least one first part. 
     
     
         8 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 1 , wherein a substantial amount of the at least one super-absorbent polymer is provided with a coating comprising hydrophobic pyrogenic silica. 
     
     
         9 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one super-corroding alloy comprises at least one first alloy component chosen from aluminum, magnesium, zinc, and mixtures of any of the foregoing, and at least one second alloy component chosen from iron, copper, nickel, titanium, chromium, carbon, and mixtures of any of the foregoing. 
     
     
         10 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the at least one super-corroding alloy is at least partially coated with a coating chosen from a water-soluble coating, a water-permeable coating, and a water-degradable coating. 
     
     
         11 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one super-corroding alloy comprises magnesium and iron. 
     
     
         12 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one super-corroding alloy comprises particles ranging in size from about U.S. Standard Sieve 14 to about U.S. Standard Sieve 200. 
     
     
         13 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one super-corroding alloy comprises a mixture of particles comprising particles ranging in size from about U.S. Standard Sieve 16 to about U.S. Standard Sieve 20 and particles ranging in size from about U.S. Standard Sieve 45 to about U.S. Standard Sieve 140. 
     
     
         14 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one super-corroding alloy is present in an amount ranging from 5 percent to 75 percent by weight, based on the dry weight of the at least one first part. 
     
     
         15 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 1 , wherein the component of the at least one second part is chosen from water and an aqueous solution, and the at least one first part further comprises at least one electrolyte. 
     
     
         16 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one electrolyte comprises at least one salt comprising a cation chosen from Li + , Na + , K + , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , and combinations of any of the foregoing; and an anion chosen from Cl − , Br − , I − , ClO 4   − , BF 4   − , PF 6   − , AsF 6   − , SbF 6   − , CH 3 CO 2   − , CF 3 SO 3   − , N(CF 3 SO 2 ) 2   − , C(CF 3 SO 2 ) 2   − , CO 3   2− , and combinations of any of the foregoing. 
     
     
         17 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one electrolyte is present in an amount ranging from 0.01 percent to 36 percent by weight, based on the weight of the at least one second part. 
     
     
         18 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 1 , wherein the component of the at least one second part comprises at least one electrolyte. 
     
     
         19 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one electrolyte comprises at least one salt comprising a cation chosen from Li + , Na + , K + , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , and combinations of any of the foregoing; and an anion chosen from Cl − , Br − , I − , ClO 4   − , BF 4   − , PF 6   − , AsF 6   − , SbF 6   − , CH 3 CO 2   − , CF 3 SO 3   − , N(CF 3 SO 2 ) 2   − , C(CF 3 SO 2 ) 2   − , CO 3   2− , and combinations of any of the foregoing. 
     
     
         20 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one electrolyte is present in an amount ranging from 0.01% to 36% by weight, based on the weight of the at least one second part. 
     
     
         21 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first part further comprises at least one hydrophobic component. 
     
     
         22 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one hydrophobic component comprises hydrophobic pyrogenic silica. 
     
     
         23 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 1  comprises pellets formed from compressed particles of the least one super-corroding alloy. 
     
     
         24 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one reflecting element. 
     
     
         25 . The multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one at least one insulating element. 
     
     
         26 . A multiple-part electrochemical thermal signaling or marking system, comprising:
 at least one first part comprising at least one super-corroding alloy and at least one super-absorbent polymer; and   at least one second part comprising at least one component chosen from water,   an aqueous solution, at least one electrolyte, and mixtures of any of the foregoing;   wherein heat is emitted when the at least one first part and the at least one second part interact.   
     
     
         27 . A containment device comprising:
 at least one first containment part comprising at least one super-corroding alloy and at least one absorbent material,   at least one second containment part comprising a material chosen from water, an aqueous solution, at least one electrolyte, and mixtures of any of the foregoing,   at least one vent member in fluid communication with the outside of the containment device and at least one of the at least one first containment member and the at least one second containment member, and   at least one breakable barrier separating the at least one first containment part from the at least one second containment part;   wherein heat is emitted when the at least one breakable barrier is broken.