Low emissivity material for inflatable safety products
Described is a fabric or flexible composite material for an inflatable safety product having an emissivity of less than or equal to 0.25. The fabric or flexible composite material may include a substrate defining a surface and a metallic layer covering at least one surface of the substrate.
1 . A fabric or flexible composite material for an inflatable safety product, the fabric or flexible composite material comprising:
a substrate comprising liquid crystal polymer, aromatic polyester, or aromatic polyamide;
a metallic layer covering at least one surface of the substrate, wherein the metallic layer is provided as a predetermined pattern on at least one surface of the substrate;
an exterior layer that covers the metallic layer; and
an interior layer on a second surface of the substrate opposite the at least one surface, wherein the interior layer is an air-tight layer.
2 . The fabric or flexible composite material of claim 1 , wherein the fabric or flexible composite material comprises a radiant heat resistance of at least 180 seconds, when exposed to radiant heat flux of 1.5 Btu/ft 2 -sec or greater, for at least 180 seconds.
3 . The fabric or flexible composite material of claim 1 , wherein:
the metallic layer is a completely covering metallic layer; and
an adhesive layer and/or a film layer is between the metallic layer and the substrate.
4 . The fabric or flexible composite material of claim 1 , wherein the exterior layer is an outermost layer of the fabric or flexible composite material.
5 . The fabric or flexible composite material of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the surface of the fabric or flexible composite material is not covered by the metallic layer.
6 . The fabric or flexible composite material of claim 1 , wherein the metallic layer is provided as a pattern on at least one surface of the substrate, adhered to the substrate by an adhesive layer.
7 . The fabric or flexible composite material of claim 1 , wherein the metallic layer comprises aluminum, an aluminum alloy, nickel, a nickel alloy, brass, a brass alloy, steel, a steel alloy, stainless steel, a stainless steel alloy, silver, silver alloy, or combinations thereof.
8 . The fabric or flexible composite material of claim 1 , wherein the metallic layer is printed on the fabric or flexible composite material, adhered to the fabric or flexible composite material, vapor deposited on the fabric or flexible composite material, a metallic foil layer on the fabric or flexible composite material, a plated metallic layer on the fabric or flexible composite material, or a sputter deposited metallic layer on the fabric or flexible composite material.
9 . The fabric or flexible composite material of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer and/or a film layer between the substrate and a metallic layer.
10 . The fabric or flexible composite material of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a material with a melting point less than 400° F.
11 . An inflatable safety product comprising a fabric or flexible composite material for an inflatable safety product, the fabric or flexible composite material comprising:
a substrate defining a surface, the substrate comprising liquid crystal polymer, aromatic polyester, or aromatic polyamide;
a metallic layer covering the surface of the fabric or flexible composite material, wherein the metallic layer is provided as a predetermined pattern on at least one surface of the substrate;
an exterior layer that covers the metallic layer, wherein the exterior layer is an outermost layer of the fabric or flexible composite material; and
an interior layer on a second surface of the substrate opposite at least one surface, wherein the interior layer is an air-tight layer.
12 . The inflatable safety product of claim 11 , wherein the inflatable safety product is compliant with at least one of TSO-C69c from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), TSO-C13f from the FAA, or TSO-C70b from the FAA as of 2023.
13 . The inflatable safety product of claim 11 , wherein the metallic layer is a completely covering layer and comprises aluminum, an aluminum alloy, nickel, a nickel alloy, brass, a brass alloy, steel, a steel alloy, stainless steel, a stainless steel alloy, silver, silver alloy, or combinations thereof.
14 . The inflatable safety product of claim 11 , wherein the fabric or flexible composite material further comprises an adhesive layer and/or a film layer between the metallic layer and the substrate.
15 . The inflatable safety product of claim 11 , wherein the fabric or flexible composite material comprises a radiant heat resistance of at least 180 seconds, when exposed to radiant heat flux of 1.5 Btu/ft 2 -sec or greater, for at least 180 seconds.
16 . The inflatable safety product of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the surface of the fabric or flexible composite material is not covered by the metallic layer.
17 . The inflatable safety product of claim 11 , wherein the metallic layer is provided as a pattern on at least one surface of the substrate, adhered to the substrate by an adhesive layer.
18 . The inflatable safety product of claim 11 , wherein the metallic layer is printed on the fabric or flexible composite material, adhered to the fabric or flexible composite material, vapor deposited on the fabric or flexible composite material, a metallic foil layer on the fabric or flexible composite material, a plated metallic layer on the fabric or flexible composite material, or a sputter deposited metallic layer on the fabric or flexible composite material.
19 . The inflatable safety product of claim 11 , wherein the exterior layer is configured to prevent damage, oxidation, and/or corrosion of the metallic layer.
20 . The inflatable safety product of claim 11 , wherein:
the exterior layer is configured to prevent deterioration of the fabric or flexible composite material due to hydrolysis;
the exterior layer is configured to promote adhesion to the metallic layer; or
the exterior layer is configured to improve durability of the metallic layer.