An on-line method of forming a multilayered coating on a sheet of fibrous or foam insulation, includes: applying a first coating layer of a first coating composition directly to a first major surface of the insulation sheet; heating an exposed major surface of the first coating layer to stabilize the coating composition at the exposed major surface of the first coating layer so that the first coating layer remains an essentially discrete layer when a second coating layer is applied to the exposed major surface of the first coating layer and to only partially cure the coating composition at the exposed major surface of the coating composition so that a second coating layer applied to the exposed major surface of the first coating layer will readily bond to the first coating layer; applying a second coating layer of a second coating composition directly to the exposed major surface of the first coating layer subsequent to heating the exposed major surface of the first coating layer; and heating the insulation sheet and the first and second coating layers, subsequent to the application of the second coating layer, until the first and second coating layers are substantially dried and cured.
The method includes applying a heat reflective coating to a substrate sheet of construction material and air drying the heat reflective coating on the construction material. The method is directed particularly to the coating of insulation material, such as fiberglass batts, at the time of manufacture, but may be applied to virtually any sheet of material in order to improve the insulation properties and structural value of the material. By completely encapsulating fibrous insulation material with the impervious heat reflective coating, the emission of irritant fiber particles and corresponding health hazards are eliminated. Also, the efficiency of the insulation material is improved by sealing out moisture when completely encapsulated by the coating.
The present invention provides coating materials (14), insulation-containing building material products bearing the materials and methods for applying the coatings to the building material products. The coating materials (14) possess one-way "breathability" characteristics with respect to water and aqueous solutions. That is, the coatings are essentially impermeable to liquid water and permeable to water vapor. Vapor from water insulation coated by the material may thus pass through the coating, whereas liquid water is effectively prevented from passing through the coating and entering the insulation.
Described is an insulation module (1) for a vessel (2) used in a chemical plant. The module may take the form of a panel having an outer surface layer (3) and an insulation layer (5) secured to the outer surface layer (3). Mounting means (10) extends from the panel (1) and enables mounting of the insulation module (1) on an outer wall (2) of the vessel. An air gap (15) is provided between the insulation layer (3) and the outer vessel wall (2) when the insulation module is mounted (1) on the vessel (2).
An insulation product is provided comprising a sheet of randomly oriented fibers bonded by a binder. The sheet has first and second major surfaces and a pair of side portions. A facing layer is bonded to at least one of the major surfaces. A region of the sheet proximate to the facing layer is more puncture resistant than a remainder of the sheet.
A fan array fan section in air-handling system includes a plurality of fan units arranged in a fan array. Each fan unit is positioned within a fan unit chamber/cell. Each fan unit chamber/cell has at least one acoustically absorptive insulation surface. The insulation surfaces of the fan unit chamber/cells together form a coplanar silencer. Sound waves from the fan units passing through the insulation surface at least partially dissipate as they pass therethrough. In one preferred embodiments the fan unit chamber/cell is a cell having a frame that supports the insulation surface.
