INSULATION MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE INSULATION

Abstract: The invention relates to a coating for insulation material, which coating comprises a metal layer (1), such as an aluminium layer, and a plastic layer (2). The plastic layer contains plastic that crystallises when heated. The plastic can more particularly be a polyamide.

Description: INSULATION MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE INSULATION Background art 5 The invention relates to building mateπals and applies to a coating for insulation mateπal The coating includes metal, such as aluminium The invention also applies to the manufacture of the coating, and its use in insulation mateπals The invention is suitable for use, for instance, in insulation mateπals that include expanded plastics or fibre wool 10 Building technology uses different insulation mateπals, in which a coating has been joined to a porous insulation layer The coating can be used to improve the insulating properties, durability, fire safety, dimensional stability, or the appearance of the mateπal 15 Aluminium foil is often used the coatings of insulation mateπals It is impermeable to gas and incombustible, and reflects thermal radiation The aluminium sheet is joined to the insulation layer by means of a plastic adhesion layer The insulation mateπal is manufactured in the following manner firstly, the adhesion layer is joined to the 20 aluminium sheet, after which the laminate that has thus been produced is joined to the insulation layer This can be done, for instance, onto polyurethane while it is still in a reactive state, whereby the layers self- adhere without separate gluing When there is a gas-tight aluminium layer against the layer of expanded plastic, the propellants in the expanded plastic remain inside it to an optimal degree 25 One problem here is, however, the coating s insufficient strength in the manufacture ot the insulation mateπal The aluminium sheet tears easily when it is pulled into the machine For example, when coating polyurethane insulation that is still forming, the resulting malfunction causes extremely great disadvantage, as the swelling polyurethane 30 foam spreads and stams production machinery and premises In fact, the pπmary function of the coating in such a situations is to protect the process machinery from reactive and sticky insulation mateπal in the initial phase of the process General disclosure of the invention The present invention concerns a coating for insulation material as claimed in claim 1. Its characteristic feature is that it comprises a metal layer, such as an aluminium layer, to which is joined a plastic layer containing a plastic that crystallises when heated. The plastic is such that it can be joined to the metal film particularly by extrusion. The plastic may be a polyamide, such as polyamide-6 or polyamide-66. The heat at which the plastic crystallises may be, for instance, 100-160°C. There may be an adhesion layer between the metal layer and the plastic layer. The invention also concerns a method for producing insulation material coating as claimed in claim 2, in which method a coating as claimed in claim 1 is manufactured by extrusion. The invention also concerns a manufacturing method for insulation material as claimed in claim 3, in which method a coating as claimed in claim 1 is used. In the method, the coating is joined to an insulation layer, and the plastic layer is heated so that the plastic crystallises. The insulation layer may more particularly be an expanded plastic, such as polyurethane or polystyrene. In this case, the coating can be joined to the insulation layer while the insulation layer is being formed. When the forming of the insulation layer is exothermal, the heat that is generated can be used in crystallising the plastic of the plastic layer. During the process of manufacturing the insulation material, the plastic layer protects the coating, especially from tearing. While crystallising, the plastic layer becomes rigid, and thus the insulation material gains solidity and surface strength. The invention also concerns insulation material as claimed in claim 8, which material is manufactured by using coating in as claimed in claim 1, in which the plastic layer includes a polyamide that crystallises when heated. Detailed description of the invention In an embodiment as shown in figure 1, a layer 2 (e g approx 30 g/m2), including a polyamιde-6 that crystallises when heated, has been joined to an aluminium layer (e g approx 50 μm) The coating thus obtained has been joined to the foamed polyurethane layer 3 m such a way that the polyamide layer remains between them, and the polyamide layer has been heated m order to crystallise the polyamide In order to improve adhesion between the aluminium layer 1 and the polyamide layer 2, there is an adhesion layer 4 between them containing a suitable adhesive plastic Correspondingly, in order to improve the adhesion between the polyamide layer and the polyurethane layer 3, there is an adhesion layer 5 between them Furthermore, the outer surface of the aluminium layer is coated with a surface layer 6 (e g HD-polyethylene) The surface layer may include necessary additives, more particularly a fire retardant A product according to figure 1 can be manufactured more particularly m such a way that an adhesion layer 4, a polyamide layer 2, an adhesion layer 5 and a surface layer 6 are joined to aluminium sheet 1 by extruding in several phases The extrusion is earned out in such a way that the polyamide does not yet substantially crystallise The coating 1 thus formed is joined to an expanded polyurethane layer 3 while it is being formed The forming reaction of polyurethane is exothermal, whereby the coating also heats up Duπng the manufactuπng process, the polyamide layer is allowed to heat up to the crystallisation heat of polyamide (e g 120-140°C, such as 125-135°C, typically approx 130°C), whereupon the polyamide crystallises The necessary crystallisation time may, for instance, be 1-5 minutes When choosing the polyamide, its extrusion properties are taken into consideration By using the coextrusion technique, the number of manufacturing phases can be reduced The polyamide in polyamide laver 2 is flexible and glutinous when uncrystalhsed Thus, the coating is easy to run on the machine, and it withstands the process well without teaπng When it crystallises, the polyamide layer strengthens and stiffens, therebv producing an insulation material that is sufficiently strong and stiff. The crystallised polyamide also increases bursting resistance. In the embodiment shown in figure 2, there is an aluminium layer 1.1, on top of which a polyamide-6 layer 2.1 has been joined. The coating thus formed has been joined to polyurethane layer 3.1 in such a way that the aluminium layer 1.1 remains between them. In order to enhance the adhesion of aluminium layer 1.1 and polyamide layer 2.1, there is an adhesion layer 4.1 between them. The adhesion layer may contain pigment, more particularly white pigment. Correspondingly, in order to increase adhesion between aluminium layer 1.1 and expanded polyurethane layer 3, there is a lacquer layer 7 (e.g. approx. 2 μm) between them. Insulation material according to figure 2 can be manufactured similarly to the material according to figure 1, described above. The coating can be formed by coextruding in two phases, more particularly in such a way that, firstly, a polyamide layer 2.1 and an adhesion layer 4.1 are joined to each other, and then joined to an aluminium layer 1.1 and an adhesion layer 7. In the embodiment shown in figure 3, there is a layer of fibre wool 8 (e.g. mineral wool approx. 50 mm), on top of it a layer of non-woven mat 9 (e.g. glass fibre mat approx. 50 g/m2), a plastic layer 10 (e.g. polyethylene approx. 40 g/m2), an adhesion layer 5.1 (e.g. approx. 2 μm), a polyamide layer 2.2 (e.g. approx. 30 μm), an adhesion layer 4.2 (e.g. approx. 2 μm), a layer of aluminium foil 1.2 (e.g. approx. 50 μm), and a lacquer layer 6.1 (e.g. approx. 3 μm). During manufacture, heat is passed from above through the entire layer. Melting occurs at a temperature of, for example, 140-160°C, typically at approximately 150°C. In addition, figure 4 presents a product corresponding to figure 2, in which the insulation is a layer of polystyrene foam (EPS) 3.2. On top of it, there is a layer of hot seal lacquer 7.1 (e.g. approx. 2 μm), a layer of aluminium foil 1.3, an adhesion layer 4.3 (e.g. approx. 2 μm), and a polyamide layer (e.g. approx. 30 μm). In manufacturing, heat is applied from above. The polystyrene foam 3.2 melts and adheres to the hot seal lacquer 7.1. Insulation materials according to the invention can be manufactured so that they meet the fire regulation norms.

Claims: b Claims 1. A coating for insulation material comprising a metal layer ( 1 ; 1.1 ; 1.2; 1.3), such as an aluminium layer, and a plastic layer, characterised in that the plastic layer (2; 2.1; 2.2; 2.3) contains plastic that crystallises when heated. 2. A method for manufacturing a coating for insulation material, in which method a metal layer, such as an aluminium layer, is joined to a plastic layer, characterised in that the plastic layer contains extrudable plastic that crystallises when heated, and that the layers are joined to each other by extrusion. 3. A method for manufacturing insulation material, in which method a coating is joined to an insulation layer such as a layer containing expanded plastic or fibre wool, the coating containing a metal layer, such as an aluminium layer, and a plastic layer, characterised in that the plastic layer of the coating contains plastic that crystallises when heated, and that the plastic layer is heated in order to crystallise the plastic. 4. A method as claimed in claim 3, in which a plastic layer contains a polyamide that crystallises when heated, such as polyamide-66 or polyamide-6, particularly polyamide-6. 5. A method as claimed in claim 3 or 4, in which a plastic layer is heated to 100- 160°C. 6. A method as claimed in any of the claims 3-5, in which method the insulation layer contains an expanded plastic, such as expanded polyurethane or expanded polystyrene, and in which the coating is joined to a layer of expanded plastic during the formation of the plastic layer. 7. A method as claimed in claim 6, in which during the formation of an expanded plastic layer, heat is generated, with the help of which the plastic in the plastic layer is crystallised. 8. An insulation material with an insulation layer (3; 3.1; 3.2; 8, 9), and the coating joined to it, including a metal layer such as an aluminium layer (1; 1.1; 1.2; 1.3), and a plastic layer, characterised in that the plastic layer (2; 2.1 ; 2.2; 2.3) contains a polyamide crystallised by heating. 9. An insulation material as claimed in claim 8, in which a polyamide layer (2; 2.2) is placed against the insulation layer (3; 8, 9). 0. An insulation material as claimed in claim 8 or 9, in which there is a layer that enhances adhesion between the coating and the insulation layer (5; 10, 5.1; 7; 7.1).

Inventors: PEURAMAEKI JUHANI, PEURAMAEKI, JUHANI
Applicants: PEURAMAEKI JUHANI, UPM KYMMENE CORP, PEURAMAEKI, JUHANI, UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
Application year: 2000
Main classification: F16L59
IPC codes: B32B15, F16L59