Composite hydrophobic insulation textile

Abstract

A composite hydrophobic insulation textile with glass fibers and a first fluoropolymer. The first fluoropolymer and the glass fibers are interspersed with one another with sufficient uniformity to render the composite hydrophobic insulation textile as hydrophobic insulation and is temperature stable up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composite hydrophobic insulation textile comprising glass fibers and a first fluoropolymer; wherein said first fluoropolymer and the glass fibers are interspersed with one another with sufficient uniformity to render the composite hydrophobic insulation textile as hydrophobic insulation and is temperature stable up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit and comprises 60-90% glass fiber, 2-30% hydrophobic polymer and 1-10% hydrophobic inorganic particles. 
     
     
         2 . The composite hydrophobic insulation textile of  claim 1 , wherein the composite does not release dust when handled or when in use. 
     
     
         3 . The composite hydrophobic insulation textile of  claim 1 , wherein the composite hydrophobic insulation textile is a thermal insulator, with a thermal conductivity k less than 0.14 Watt/m° K for at least some temperatures between 25° C. and 370° C. 
     
     
         4 . The composite hydrophobic insulation textile of  claim 1 , wherein the composite hydrophobic insulation textile additionally comprises a super-hydrophobic topcoat on at least one surface of said composite; wherein said super-hydrophobic topcoat comprises a mixture of a second fluoropolymers and inorganic particles; wherein said first and second fluoropolymers may be the same or different; and wherein said inorganic particles comprise particles selected from the group consisting of silica aerogel, fumed silica, precipitated silica, synthetic amorphous silica, and mixtures thereof; wherein said inorganic particles have a particle size between 0.1 to 100 microns; wherein said inorganic particles have a specific surface area of 100 m2/g or greater; and wherein said inorganic particles comprise a hydrophobic surface treatment. 
     
     
         5 . The composite hydrophobic insulation textile of  claim 4 , wherein the hydrophobic surface treatment comprises dimethyl silyl, trimethylsilyl, or other alkylsilyl moieties. 
     
     
         6 . The composite hydrophobic insulation textile of  claim 1 , wherein the composite hydrophobic insulation textile additionally comprises an infrared opacifier that reduces radiative heat flow; wherein said infrared opacifier comprises particles selected from the group consisting of carbon black, graphite, graphene, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, silicon carbide, zirconium dioxide, and mixtures thereof; wherein said infrared opacifier comprises 0.1% to 10% of said composite hydrophobic insulation textile by mass. 
     
     
         7 . The composite hydrophobic insulation textile of  claim 1 , wherein the glass fibers comprise a needle felt fiberglass blanket. 
     
     
         8 . The composite hydrophobic insulation textile of  claim 1 , wherein the glass fibers are selected from the group consisting of E-glass fiber, C-glass fiber, T-glass fiber, S-glass fiber, textile-grade basalt fiber, and mixtures thereof; and wherein the diameters of said glass fibers are between 4 and 13 microns. 
     
     
         9 . The composite hydrophobic insulation textile of  claim 1 , wherein the glass fibers are between 60% and 95% of said composite hydrophobic insulation textile by mass. 
     
     
         10 . The composite hydrophobic insulation textile of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluoropolymer comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, perfluoroalkoxy alkanes, fluorinated ethylene propylene, and mixtures thereof; and wherein said first fluoropolymer is between 2% and 30% of said composite hydrophobic insulation textile by mass. 
     
     
         11 . The composite hydrophobic insulation textile of  claim 10 , wherein the first fluoropolymer additionally comprises at least one additional, low-melting fluoropolymer with a melting point below 315° C.; wherein said low-melting fluoropolymer is between 0.1% and 25% of said composite hydrophobic insulation textile by mass; and wherein said low-melting fluoropolymer improves the ability to mold said composite hydrophobic insulation textile into a selected shape that is retained after molding. 
     
     
         12 . The composite hydrophobic insulation textile of  claim 11 , wherein the composite hydrophobic insulation textile is moldable, or wherein the composite hydrophobic insulation textile has been molded into and thereafter retains a selected shape.