SBIR Phase I: Development of long service life vacuum insulation composites

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目的重点是开发一种新的制造方法，以生产具有优异的热效率和结构效率的分隔式真空复合材料。拟议的努力将使这些材料能够大规模生产，并组装成合适的尺寸和形状，同时保持电池板内部的真空。目前用于温度敏感型运输的泡沫隔热材料的绝缘能力和机械性能有限，需要更厚的墙壁和大量的冷却剂来维持有效载荷温度。这减少了有效负载量并限制了可重用性。现在有机会开发高绝缘、结构高效的材料，显著提高冷链集装箱的绝缘能力和寿命。将使用认可的测试方法制造隔断的真空复合材料原型，并对其机械和隔热性能进行测试。将确定实验室规模和工业规模生产的关键制造和质量参数。这项工作的成功完成将带来一种新的制造方法，这种方法将实现高效(绝缘性能提高五到十倍)冷链运输解决方案。拟议的材料将提供可持续的经济和环境效益，并有望取代目前冷链运输中使用的聚苯乙烯和真空保温板。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力最终可能延伸到冷链运输、仓储、建筑绝缘、汽车、航空航天和其他先进市场。第一个应用是在冷链运输行业，用于高度敏感的材料。基于所提出的技术，将实现新一代重量轻、绝缘均匀、耐用和耐用的集装箱。对温度敏感的产品，如救命疫苗和血液，可以使用这些集装箱运输。这些集装箱将提供更长的运输时间、高抗冲击性和可重复使用。冷链运输市场的客户包括血库、红十字会、药房、临床试验托运人、诊断中心和生命科学材料供应商。美国每年在生命科学包装方面的市场潜力估计为2.91亿美元。成功完成拟议的目标将产生一种多功能绝缘结构材料，该材料还将在基础设施、汽车、飞机、海洋、计算机、商业电子和其他家庭应用中得到应用。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project is focused on development of a novel manufacturing method for producing compartmentalized vacuum composites that exhibit superior thermal and structural efficiency. The proposed efforts will enable mass production of these materials and assembly into appropriate sizes and shapes, while maintaining vacuum inside the panels. The limited insulation capability and mechanical performance of foam-based insulation currently used for temperature-sensitive shipments require thicker walls and a large amount of cooling agent to maintain payload temperature. This reduces the payload volume and limits re-usability. There is an opportunity to develop highly insulating, structurally efficient materials that can significantly increase insulation capacity and longevity of cold chain shipping containers. Compartmentalized vacuum composite prototypes will be manufactured and tested for mechanical and thermal insulation properties using accredited testing methods. Key manufacturing and quality parameters will be confirmed for lab-scale and industrial-scale production. Successful completion of this work will result in a novel manufacturing method which will enable highly efficient (five to ten times improvement in insulation) cold chain shipping solutions. The proposed materials will provide sustainable economic and environmental benefits and are poised to replace polystyrene and vacuum insulation panels currently used in cold chain shipping. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project could eventually extend to cold chain shipping, storage, building insulation, automobiles, aerospace and other advanced markets. The first application is in the cold chain shipping industry for highly sensitive materials. Based on the proposed technology, a new generation of lightweight, evenly-insulated, durable, and long-lasting containers will be realized. Temperature-sensitive products such as life-saving vaccines and blood can be shipped using these containers. These containers will offer longer shipping duration, high impact resistance, and re-usability. Customers in the cold chain shipping market include blood banks, the Red Cross, pharmacies, clinical trial shippers, diagnostic centers, and life science material providers. The annual United States market potential in life sciences packaging is estimated at $291 million. Successful completion of the proposed objectives will result in a versatile insulating structural material that will also find application in infrastructure, automobiles, aircraft, marine, computing, commercial electronics and other household applications.