Patent ID: 8535048

Claim:
A hot-runner system, comprising: a heater configured to generate thermal energy responsive to receiving power; a heat-sourcing component configured to receive the thermal energy from the heater so that the thermal energy that is generated by the heater is transferred, at least in part, from the heater to the heat-sourcing component, and the heat-sourcing component becomes heated to an operating temperature; a heat-receiving component at least partially spaced from the heat-sourcing component, the operating temperature of the heat-receiving component being cooler than the operating temperature of the heat-sourcing component; and a non-structurally supportive heat insulator including a visible material that includes a microporous material including a nanomaterial having micropores, the visible material being temperature compatible with the heat-sourcing component, and the visible material having a thermal conductivity being lower than the thermal conductivity of air during operation of the hot-runner system, whereby, in use, the non-structurally supportive heat insulator: (i) reduces heat transmission from the heat-sourcing component to the heat-receiving component, and (ii) permits reduction of power consumption of the heater.