SELF HARDENING FLEXIBLE INSULATION MATERIAL SHOWING EXCELLENT TEMPERATURE AND FLAME RESISTANCE

1 . A material comprising at least one of a thermal or sound insulation material comprising at least one layer of an expanded organic polymer blend, wherein the polymer has at least one of hetero atoms in the polymer backbone or reactive side groups or sites and the polymer blend comprises at least one filler with chemical reaction potential at a temperature higher than 280° C. and at least one crosslinker leading to a subsequent crosslinking during heat loading (permanent exposition to temperatures higher than 280° C.), wherein that crosslinker is chemically active at a temperature higher than 280° C., thus leading to subsequent crosslinking.

2 . The material according to claim 1 , wherein the organic polymer blend is vulcanized before heat loading.

3 . The material according to claim 1 , wherein the crosslinker includes at least one compound chosen from the classes of initiators, bi-, tri- or tetrafunctional crosslinkers or any mixtures thereof.

4 . The material according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer blend is expanded to a density of less than 700 kg/m3 according to ISO 845.

5 . The material according to claim 1 , wherein the expanded polymer blend is showing a thermal conductivity of less than 0.2 W/mK at 0° C. according to EN 12667.

6 . The material according to claim 1 where the closed cell content is at least 70%.

7 . The material according to claim 1 , which shows a controlled self-rigidification effect at temperatures >300° C. being faster than its respective heat aging leading to a self-glassed or self-ceramified, means self-rigidified material.

8 . The material according to claim 1 , where the polymer is an elastomer or thermoplastic elastomer.

9 . The material according to claim 1 , where the subsequent crosslinking is based to more than 50% on at least one of condensation or polycondensation reaction mechanisms releasing low molecular substances and wherein such low molecular substances of the general formula at least one of HX, wherein X is —OH, halogen, —OR, or —OOR where R is any organic or inorganic substituent or MX, wherein M is a metal or half metal.

10 . The material according to claim 1 , where the filler is at least one of aluminium, silicon oxide, hydroxide or alkyleneoxide based.

11 . The material according to claim 1 , where the secondary crosslinking system is based on at least one of boron, nitrogen, phosphorous silicon compounds.

12 . The material according to claim 1 , wherein ridge structures are applied on one or both surfaces of the layer.

13 . The material according to claim 1 , wherein at least one protective layer is applied on the interior to prevent at least one of premature heat aging or mechanical damage.

14 . The material according to claim 1 , wherein at least one additional insulation or protection layer is applied on the exterior to improve at least one of insulation properties, or wear resistance, or to lower costs of the total system.

15 . The material according to claim 1 , wherein additional layers for protection, barrier and shielding purposes are applied on, underneath or in within other layers.

16 . A process for manufacturing the material according to claim 1 , in at least one of a moulding, continuous (co)extrusion or (co)lamination process.

17 . The use of a material according to claim 1 for applications requiring high temperature resistance at application temperatures >300° C. (continuous, intermediate or peak).

18 . The use of the material according to claim 17 for applications requiring high temperature resistance at application temperatures <600° C. (continuous, intermediate or peak).

19 . The material of claim 3 wherein the crosslinkers are tri- and tetrafunctional crosslinkers.

20 . The material of claim 4 wherein the density is less than 500 kg/m3.

21 . The material of claim 5 wherein the conductivity is less than 0.08 W/mK at 0° C.