Patent ID: 8424636

Claim:
A reflective muffler assembly comprising: a) one or more exhaust pipe(s), at least one of the exhaust pipe(s) having a plurality of perforations; b) a polymeric housing carried by at least one of the exhaust pipe(s), the polymeric housing having a housing interior surface and at least one housing-exhaust pipe interface and the polymeric housing enclosing the plurality of perforations to provide one or more acoustic chamber(s); and c) a thermal insulating layer lining said housing interior surface and extending between the housing and exhaust pipe at the at least one housing-exhaust pipe interface; wherein the thermal insulating layer comprises a nonwoven fabric comprising crimped, heat-resistant organic fibers compressed thereon, the fibers held in a compressed state by a thermoplastic binder; wherein when the fabric is exposed to heat, the fabric increases in thickness to seal the reflective muffler assembly at the housing-exhaust pipe interface and provides thermal insulation to the polymeric housing.