Self-repairing inflatable articles
A self-repairing inflatable article including an inflatable component that includes an interior surface and an exterior surface, a sealed flexible package adjacent to the inflatable component, and a sealant composition disposed in the sealed flexible package. The sealed flexible package is configured to release the sealant composition upon puncture, tearing or other breach of the inflatable component.
1. A self-repairing structure comprising
a pressurized component; and
a sealed flexible package, comprising one or more sealed cells, wherein
the package or each cell comprises
a first sheet with one or more edges;
a second sheet with one or more edges;
a sealant composition disposed between the first and second sheets; and
the first and second sheets sealed to each other at the one or more edges, where each sheet is a laminate having a top layer of polyester, an adhering layer of polyethylene, a metal foil and a second layer of polyethylene which forms the internal surface of the package; and
wherein the sealed flexible package is configured to release the sealant composition upon puncture of the pressurized component.
2. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 wherein the structure is a tent or building.
3. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 , wherein the structure is supported by a dome, air-frame, inflatable arch or an air beam.
4. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises a woven web or cloth or weave comprising at least one of fiberglass, nylon fibers, polypropylene fibers, metal fibers, carbon fibers, inerga fibers, tegris fibers, para-amide fibers meta-amide fibers, or polyparaphenylene terephthalamide fibers.
5. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 wherein the metal foil comprises aluminum, tin, steel or an alloy of any one of the foregoing.
6. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 wherein the metal foil comprises aluminum.
7. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 wherein an interior surface of the sealed flexible package is an acid-treated surface.
8. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 wherein the sealant composition comprises one or more of cyanoacrylate, one-part epoxy, polymerizable monomers, polymerizable oligomers, polyurethane, latex, rubber cement, and cold vulcanizing fluid with rubber or asphalt particles or whiskers.
9. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 wherein the sealant composition comprises pieces or particles of rubber, other elastomers, carbon black, asphalt or bitumen.
10. The self-repairing structure of claim 9 wherein the sealant composition comprises an organic solvent.
11. The self-repairing structure of claim 10 wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethyl ether, acetone, n-heptane, n-hexane, toluene, acetone, glycerol, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, methylene chloride, ethylene dichloride, pyridine, isooctane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, o-xylene, trichloroethylene, dimethyl sulfoxide and combinations of any two or more thereof.
12. The self-repairing structure of claim 10 wherein the organic solvent comprises n-hexane and/or n-heptane.
13. The self-repairing structure of claim 10 , wherein the sealant composition comprises one or more of an acrylate, alkyl acrylate, methylmethacrylate, cyanoacrylate, acrylic acid, alkyl acrylic acid, olefin, lactone, lactam, styrene, isoprene, butadiene, urethane, amines, silicone-carbon resins, dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) and epoxy.
14. The self-repairing structure of claim 9 wherein the sealant composition comprises vulcanizing fluid, one or two organic solvents with a boiling point of at least about 75° C. and whiskers of uncured rubber or particles of asphalt or bitumen.
15. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 , wherein the sealant composition comprises one or more of an acrylate, alkyl acrylate, methylmethacrylate, cyanoacrylate, acrylic acid, alkyl acrylic acid, olefin, lactone, lactam, styrene, isoprene, butadiene, urethane, siloxane, amine, silicone-carbon resin, dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) and epoxy.
16. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 wherein the sealant composition comprises one or more of ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate, methyl 2-cyanoacrylate, n-butyl cyanoacrylate, 2-octyl cyanoacrylate, alkyl (meth)acrylate, rubber latex, rubber cement, and cold vulcanizing fluid.
17. The self-repairing structure of claim 16 wherein the sealant composition comprises cold vulcanizing fluid and the cold vulcanizing fluid comprises trichloroethylene.
18. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 wherein the sealant composition comprises a chemical capable of chemically bonding to an elastomeric polymer.
19. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 , wherein the sealant composition remains active even when heated to at least 125° C.
20. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 , wherein the sealant composition comprises heat-resistant additives and shelf life increasing additives.
21. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 , wherein the sealant composition comprises rubber latex.
22. The self-repairing structure of claim 21 , wherein the amount of rubber, other elastomers, carbon black, bitumen, or asphalt range up to about 75% by weight of the sealant composition.
23. A self-repairing pressurized structure comprising
a sealed flexible package, comprising one or more sealed cells, wherein
the package or each cell comprises
a first sheet with one or more edges;
a second sheet with one or more edges;
a sealant composition disposed between the first and second sheets; and
the first and second sheets sealed to each other at the one or more edges, where each sheet is a laminate having a top layer of polyester, an adhering layer of polyethylene, a metal foil and a second layer of polyethylene which forms the internal surface of the package; and
wherein the sealed flexible package is configured to release the sealant composition upon puncture of the pressurized structure.
24. The self-repairing pressurized structure of claim 1 , wherein the self-repairing structure is a tire, dome, air-frame, inflatable arch or an air beam.
25. A self-repairing pressurized structure comprising:
a sealed flexible package, and
a sealant composition disposed in the sealed flexible package,
wherein the sealed flexible package comprises one or more sealed cells, and the package or each cell comprises:
a single sheet having one or more edges, wherein the sheet is folded over on itself and sealed where the edges meet;
the sealant composition disposed within the folded sheet; and
the sheet is a laminate having a top layer of polyester, an adhering layer of polyethylene, a metal foil and a second layer of polyethylene which forms the internal surface of the package; and
the sealed flexible package is configured to release the sealant composition upon puncture of the pressurized structure.