US4130687A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inorganic foam
Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd
•
Filing: 1977-04-14
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Granted: 1978-12-19
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Expires: 1997-04-14
Abstract
Abstract A rigid cellular foam of Vermiculite lamellae made by drying the frothy mass formed when an aqueous suspension is gasified.
Inventors
- 👤 Denis G. H. Ballard
- 👤 Colin S. Cundy
- 👤 Graham R. Rideal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:45
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B5/00; B32B5/22; B32B5/32; B32B5/18; C; C04; C04B; C04B30/00; B32B2266/00; B32B2266/02; B32B2266/0214; B32B2266/0278; B32B2266/04; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/30; B32B2307/306; B32B2307/3065; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S106/00; Y10S106/03; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/92; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249971; Y10T428/249973
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
13 words
A rigid foam comprising an inorganic cellular structure composed of lamellae of vermiculite.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
13 words
A rigid foam comprising an inorganic cellular structure composed of lamellae of vermiculite.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A rigid foam comprising a cellular structure having the cell walls thereof composed of overlapping individual vermiculite lamellae adhering together by mutually attractive forces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A rigid foam comprising a cellular structure having the cell walls thereof composed of overlapping individual vermiculite lamellae adhering together by mutually attractive forces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A rigid foam as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lamellae possess a smallest dimension not greater than 0.5 μm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A rigid foam as claimed in claim 3 wherein the lamellae have smallest dimension not greater than 0.05 μm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A rigid foam as claimed in claim 4 wherein the lamellae have length or breadth dimensions of at least one hundred times the size of the smallest dimension.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A rigid foam as claimed in claim 5 wherein the lamellae have length or breadth dimensions of at least one thousand times the size of the smallest dimension.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A rigid foam as claimed in claim 1 formed into a continuous and substantially uniform sheet foam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A foam as claimed in claim 1 having a density not greater than 0.5g/ml.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A foam as claimed in claim 8 and having a density not greater than 0.15g/ml.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A process for the production of a rigid foam of vermiculite comprising the production of a suspension of vermiculite lamellae in a liquid medium, gasification of the suspension to form a froth and removal of the liquid medium from the froth by evaporation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A process for the production of a rigid foam of vermiculite comprising the production of a suspension of vermiculite lamellae in a liquid medium, gasification of the suspension to form a froth and removal of the liquid medium from the froth by evaporation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as claimed in claim 10 in which the liquid medium is aqueous.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as claimed in claim 11 wherein the gasification is performed by entraining gas in the suspension by rapid agitation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as claimed in claim 12 wherein the gasification is performed by whisking or beating the whole suspension into a froth.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as claimed in claim 11 wherein the gasification is performed by intimate mixing of the suspension with a volatile liquid and evaporating the liquid in the suspension.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as claimed in claim 11 wherein the gasification is produced by rapidly heating the suspension.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process as claimed in claim 10 wherein the suspension is classified by the removal of the coarser particles of vermiculite from the suspension prior to the gasification.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as claimed in claim 10 wherein a surface active agent or foaming agent is present in the suspension of vermiculite lamellae.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as claimed in claim 17 wherein the surface active agent or foaming agent is a cationic organic salt.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as claimed in claim 10 wherein a foaming agent or surface active agent is added to the suspension of vermiculite lamellae prior to gasification.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process as claimed in claim 10 wherein during evaporation the foam is contacted with previously formed vermiculite structures, in the form of rigid foam or exfoliated granules, in order to cement the solid vermiculite structures together.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
11 words
A shaped article comprising a foam as claimed in claim 1.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 21 having a skin of vermiculite over a substantial part of its surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 21 and consisting of a laminated sheet having vermiculite foam laminated to a sheet, film or slab of an organic polymer or plastic.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 23 comprising a laminate of polyurethane foam with vermiculite foam.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
A polyurethane foam panel faced on at least one side with a coating of the foam as claimed in claim 1.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 21 wherein vermiculite foam is sandwiched between facing boards of material other than vermiculite.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of rendering articles fire resistant by applying to the exterior surface of the article a coating of a vermiculite foam as claimed in claim 1.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-12-18 | 1982-06-19 | 1982-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-12-18 | 1986-06-19 | 1986-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-12-18 | 1990-06-19 | 1990-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |