Use of orthonate compounds and methods of use, vacuum insulation panels

Abstract

This application relates to the application and method of using orthoester compounds, and a vacuum insulation panel, belonging to the field of drying materials technology. The application includes using orthoester compounds as liquid desiccants. Orthoester compounds readily react with water at room temperature, efficiently capturing trace amounts of moisture in the system. Simultaneously, the reaction of orthoester compounds with water generates corresponding alcohols and esters. The generated alcohols and esters evaporate completely at low temperatures, leaving no residue, thus facilitating drying at low temperatures. Therefore, orthoester compounds can be used as liquid desiccants to efficiently remove trace amounts of moisture from the system at low temperatures, thereby improving drying efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of drying materials technology, and particularly relates to the application and usage methods of orthoester compounds and vacuum insulation panels. Background Technology

[0002] Vacuum insulation panels, as highly efficient thermal insulation materials, are widely used in construction, refrigeration, aerospace, and other fields. Their performance primarily depends on the porosity, vacuum level, and moisture content of the core material. In existing technologies, core material drying mainly relies on high-temperature baking and solid desiccants. However, high-temperature baking is energy-intensive and can easily lead to core material deformation; while solid desiccants such as calcium oxide suffer from small coverage area, low drying efficiency, and easy failure. Therefore, developing a highly efficient, energy-saving, and widely applicable core material drying method is particularly important. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides an application of orthoester compounds and a method for using them, as well as a vacuum insulation panel, to solve the technical problem of low drying efficiency.

[0004] In one aspect, embodiments of this application provide an application of orthoester compounds as liquid desiccants.

[0005] As can be seen from the above technical solution, this application provides an application of orthoester compounds as liquid desiccants. Orthoester compounds readily react with water at room temperature, efficiently capturing trace amounts of moisture in the system. Simultaneously, the reaction of orthoester compounds with water generates corresponding alcohols and esters. These alcohols and esters evaporate completely at low temperatures, leaving no residue, thus facilitating drying at low temperatures. Furthermore, before reacting with water, orthoester compounds possess a certain degree of chemical stability, maintaining their properties during storage and use. Therefore, orthoester compounds can be used as liquid desiccants to efficiently remove trace amounts of moisture from the system at low temperatures, thereby improving drying efficiency.

[0006] In some embodiments of this application, the orthoester compound includes triethyl orthoformate or ethyl orthoformate.

[0007] In some embodiments of this application, the triethyl orthoformate has the following properties: an active ingredient content of more than 98%, a viscosity of 20 cps / 25°C to 100 cps / 25°C, and a texture of a colorless, transparent, low-viscosity liquid.

[0008] In some embodiments of this application, the liquid desiccant is used for drying the vacuum insulation panel.

[0009] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a method for using orthoester compounds as liquid desiccants, the method comprising:

[0010] The orthoester compound is coated onto the surface of the material to be dried to obtain a pre-dried material;

[0011] The pre-dried material is dried under low temperature conditions to obtain a dried material.

[0012] In some embodiments of this application, the mass of the orthoester compound is 0.07% to 1% of the mass of the material to be dried.

[0013] In some embodiments of this application, the coating is applied using a spraying process, wherein the diameter of the spraying droplets is 20 micrometers to 100 micrometers.

[0014] In some embodiments of this application, the low-temperature condition includes at least one of the following: temperature ≤ 90°C.

[0015] In some embodiments of this application, the drying time is 0.5 hours to 2 hours.

[0016] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a vacuum insulation panel, comprising: a core material, a barrier film bag, a getter, and a desiccant, wherein the desiccant is an orthoester compound.

[0017] In some embodiments of this application, the orthoester compound includes triethyl orthoformate or ethyl orthoformate.

[0018] In some embodiments of this application, the core material includes one or more of the following: silicon powder, foam plastic, inorganic fiber, and organic fiber.

[0019] In some embodiments of this application, the getter includes a mixture of at least two of manganese dioxide, manganese trioxide, manganese tetroxide, copper oxide, cerium dioxide, cobalt tetroxide, cobalt trioxide, aluminum oxide, zinc dioxide, and silver oxide.

[0020] In some embodiments of this application, the barrier film bag contains a multilayer composite film material, which includes any one of double-sided aluminized film, double-sided aluminum-free film, and anodized / anodized film. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic flowchart illustrating a method of using orthoester compounds as liquid desiccants, provided for embodiments of this application;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the vacuum insulation panel provided in Embodiment 1 of this application;

[0025] Figure label:

[0026] 1-Core material to be dried, 2-Pre-dried core, 3-Barrier film bag, 4-Encapsulated vacuum insulation panel semi-finished product, 5-Finished vacuum insulation panel. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0028] Various embodiments of this application may exist in the form of a range; it should be understood that the description in the form of a range is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as a rigid limitation on the scope of this application; therefore, it should be considered that the range description has specifically disclosed all possible sub-ranges and single numerical values ​​within that range. For example, it should be considered that the range description from 1 to 6 has specifically disclosed sub-ranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6, etc., and single numbers within the range, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, regardless of the range. Furthermore, whenever a numerical range is referred to herein, it means including any referenced number (fraction or integer) within the referred range.

[0029] Furthermore, in the description of this application, the terms "comprising," "including," etc., mean "including but not limited to." In this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. In this document, "and / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist; for example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone. A and B can be singular or plural. In this document, "at least one" means one or more, and "more than" means two or more. "At least one," "at least one of the following," or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, "at least one of a, b, or c" or "at least one of a, b, and c" can both represent: a, b, c, ab (i.e., a and b), ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple. "Parts representation," such as parts by weight or parts by mass, indicates the proportional relationship between components. In the proportional relationships discussed in this article, parameters described by proportion should be understood as the first term of the proportion in the order of description, while the proportion figure should be understood as the second term. For example, if the mass ratio of substance A, substance B, and substance C is 1:2:3, then substances A, B, and C should correspond one-to-one with the proportion figure in the proportion in the order of description, i.e., the mass of substance A : the mass of substance B : the mass of substance C = 1:2:3.

[0030] Unless otherwise specified, all raw materials, reagents, instruments and equipment used in this application can be purchased from the market or prepared by existing methods.

[0031] Existing vacuum insulation panels have a technical problem with low drying efficiency in their core materials.

[0032] The technical solution provided in this application is to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, and the general idea is as follows:

[0033] This application provides an application of orthoester compounds as liquid desiccants.

[0034] It should be noted that orthoesters are esters formed from orthoacids (hydrates of carboxylic acids, RC(OH)3), that is, organic compounds containing three alkoxy groups on the same carbon atom. Their general formula can be represented as RC(OR')3, where R and R' are usually alkyl or aryl groups.

[0035] As can be seen from the above technical solution, this application provides an application of orthoester compounds as liquid desiccants. Orthoester compounds readily react with water at room temperature, enabling them to efficiently capture trace amounts of moisture in the system. Simultaneously, the reaction of orthoester compounds with water produces corresponding alcohols and esters. These alcohols and esters evaporate completely at low temperatures, leaving no residue, thus facilitating drying at low temperatures and improving cleanliness and effectiveness during the drying process. Furthermore, before reacting with water, orthoester compounds possess a certain degree of chemical stability, maintaining their performance during storage and use. Therefore, orthoester compounds can be used as liquid desiccants to efficiently remove trace amounts of moisture from the system at low temperatures, thereby improving drying efficiency.

[0036] In some embodiments of this application, the orthoester compound includes triethyl orthoformate or ethyl orthoformate.

[0037] The chemical formula of triethyl orthoformate is C7H 16 Due to its water-soluble properties, O3 allows triethyl orthoformate to efficiently capture and remove trace amounts of moisture from the system. Simultaneously, the volatile products (ethanol and ethyl formate) generated during decomposition evaporate completely at low temperatures, leaving no residue.

[0038] The chemical formula of ethyl acetate is C8H. 18 O3 is a colorless, transparent liquid with an odor similar to ethyl acetate. The original ethyl acetate readily reacts with water, and the resulting ethyl acetate and ethanol (or methanol) are both volatile substances.

[0039] In some embodiments of this application, the triethyl orthoformate has the following properties: an active ingredient content of more than 98%, a viscosity of 20 cps / 25°C to 100 cps / 25°C, and a texture of a colorless, transparent, low-viscosity liquid.

[0040] Triethyl orthoformate, with its high active ingredient content, suitable viscosity range, and colorless, transparent, low-viscosity liquid form, exhibits significant advantages in efficiently capturing and removing trace amounts of moisture from systems. With an active ingredient content exceeding 98%, triethyl orthoformate possesses high purity and is virtually free of impurities. Its viscosity, limited to the range of 20 cps / 25℃ to 100 cps / 25℃, provides excellent flowability. When removing trace amounts of moisture, the low viscosity of triethyl orthoformate allows it to penetrate more easily into all parts of the system, ensuring thorough contact and reaction with the moisture. This good flowability helps ensure complete moisture removal, thereby improving drying efficiency. Simultaneously, its low viscosity makes it easier to mix and disperse during use, further enhancing the efficiency of moisture removal. For example, the purity of the triethyl orthoformate can be 98.2%, 98.3%, 98.4%, 98.5%, 98.7%, 98.8%, 98.9%, 99%, 99.1%, 99.2%, 99.3%, 99.4%, 99.5%, etc., and the viscosity can be 20cps / 25℃, 25cps / 25℃, 30cps / 25℃, 40cps / 25℃, 45cps / 25℃, 50cps / 25℃, 60cps / 25℃, 65cps / 25℃, 70cps / 25℃, 80cps / 25℃, 90cps / 25℃, 95cps / 25℃, 100cps / 25℃, etc.

[0041] In some embodiments of this application, the liquid desiccant is used for drying the vacuum insulation panel.

[0042] Currently, the most common drying methods for the core material of vacuum insulation panels are high-temperature baking and desiccant drying. High-temperature baking generally involves baking in an oven at a temperature greater than 130°C for more than 2 hours, which consumes a lot of energy and causes the core material to curl and deform after high-temperature baking, affecting the packaging effect. Solid calcium oxide is commonly used as a desiccant. This desiccant has many disadvantages: (1) It can only be placed on one side of the core material, covering a very small area, and its absorption efficiency for water vapor in the core material and sealing area is not high. Its drying effect is even more limited for large-sized and irregularly shaped vacuum insulation panels; (2) Calcium oxide drying is a passive drying process, and its drying efficiency is affected by gas diffusion. Due to the Knudsen effect, the moisture in the inner core material cannot be discharged, and its absorption effect on the inner layer of moisture is limited; (3) When absorbing water, it will react chemically with water. On the one hand, it releases heat, which leads to an increase in the thermal conductivity of the vacuum insulation panel. On the other hand, the generated calcium hydroxide or calcium carbonate is easily wrapped into clumps, which encapsulates the unreacted calcium oxide, causing the desiccant to fail and further reducing the absorption effect of water vapor, thus affecting the service life of the vacuum insulation panel.

[0043] This application uses orthoester compounds as liquid desiccants for drying vacuum insulation panels, which has the following advantages: (1) The liquid desiccant can cover the entire surface of the core material and even penetrate into the internal structure of the core material, thereby ensuring that moisture in all parts of the core material can be effectively removed. (2) The liquid desiccant is not limited by the size and shape of the core material and can be flexibly applied to various complex and irregular core material structures to achieve a comprehensive drying effect. (3) Unlike the passive moisture absorption method of traditional solid calcium oxide, the liquid desiccant adopts active dehydration technology, which can capture and remove water vapor in the core material more efficiently. This technology converts water vapor into easily removable substances through chemical reaction, thereby achieving a more thorough drying effect. (4) After dehydration, the reaction products of the liquid desiccant can be completely removed at low temperature without leaving any residue or affecting the performance of the core material. This ensures the cleanliness and efficiency of the drying process. (5) Since the reaction products of the liquid desiccant and water are highly volatile, the liquid desiccant does not require high-temperature baking during use, which reduces energy consumption and production costs, and avoids the negative effects of material deformation and discoloration that may be caused by high-temperature baking.

[0044] Figure 1 This is a schematic flowchart illustrating a method for using orthoester compounds as liquid desiccants, as provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0045] Based on a general inventive concept, such as Figure 1 As shown in the embodiments of this application, a method for using orthoester compounds as liquid desiccants is provided, the method comprising:

[0046] S1. The orthoester compound is coated onto the surface of the material to be dried to obtain a pre-dried material;

[0047] In some embodiments of this application, the material to be dried may be the core material of a vacuum insulation panel.

[0048] In some embodiments of this application, the coating process may be as follows: brush coating, spray coating, dip coating, roller coating, or scraping coating.

[0049] Understandably, brush coating involves manually applying orthocyanin compounds evenly to the surface to be treated using a brush. Spray coating uses a spray gun to spray orthocyanin compounds in a mist form onto the surface of the material to be dried. Dip coating involves completely immersing the part to be treated in a paint tank, then removing it and draining off excess orthocyanin compounds. Roll coating uses a roller (usually covered with a sponge or cloth) to evenly apply orthocyanin compounds to the surface to be treated. Scraper coating uses a scraper to evenly apply orthocyanin compounds to the surface to be treated.

[0050] In some embodiments of this application, the coating is applied using a spraying process, wherein the diameter of the spraying droplets is 20 micrometers to 100 micrometers.

[0051] In some embodiments of this application, the orthoester compound is uniformly sprayed in a mist onto the surface of the core material of the vacuum insulation panel using a spraying method. This ensures a uniform distribution of the coating on the core material surface, avoiding localized areas of excessive thickness or thinness, thereby improving the uniformity and consistency of the coating. Furthermore, for large-area or complex-shaped vacuum insulation panel core materials, the spraying method can complete the coating task quickly and efficiently. Compared to other coating methods, the spraying method can significantly shorten coating time and improve production efficiency. In addition, the spraying method is suitable for various types of vacuum insulation panel core materials, such as glass fiber, silica, and aerogel. These core materials have different physical and chemical properties, but the spraying method can adapt to these differences by adjusting the coating formulation and spraying parameters to ensure coating effectiveness.

[0052] The droplet diameter in a spray coating process refers to the diameter of the tiny droplets formed after the paint is atomized through the nozzle. This diameter directly affects the paint's coverage, drying speed, and the quality of the final coating. Limiting the droplet diameter in a spray coating process to 20 to 100 micrometers ensures that the paint is uniformly distributed on the surface of the material to be dried in the form of smaller droplets. These fine droplets can penetrate into the pores of the material, improving coating adhesion and coverage, thereby increasing paint utilization during the drying process. Simultaneously, limiting the droplet diameter to 20 to 100 micrometers allows the solvent in the paint to evaporate more quickly, accelerating the drying process. At low temperatures, the fine droplets can more effectively utilize ambient heat for drying, improving drying efficiency. Furthermore, limiting the droplet diameter to 20 to 100 micrometers reduces splashing and evaporation during spraying, minimizing paint waste. This not only helps save costs but also reduces environmental pollution. For example, the diameter of the mist particles in the spraying process can be 20 micrometers, 30 micrometers, 35 micrometers, 40 micrometers, 45 micrometers, 50 micrometers, 55 micrometers, 60 micrometers, 65 micrometers, 70 micrometers, 75 micrometers, 80 micrometers, 85 micrometers, 90 micrometers, 95 micrometers, 100 micrometers, etc.

[0053] In some embodiments of this application, the mass of the orthoester compound is 0.07% to 1% of the mass of the material to be dried.

[0054] Compared to traditional high-temperature baking and drying methods, using orthoester compounds allows for drying at lower temperatures, reducing thermal stress and material deformation caused by high temperatures. By limiting the mass of the orthoester compound to 0.07% to 1% of the mass of the material to be dried, the orthoester compound can be distributed relatively evenly on the surface of the material, forming a continuous coating of suitable thickness, thus ensuring that the coating dries within an appropriate time. When the content of the orthoester compound is higher than 1%, the coating becomes too thick, increasing drying time and energy consumption. When the content of the orthoester compound is lower than 0.07%, the coating becomes too thin, resulting in incomplete drying. For example, the mass of the orthoester compound can be 0.07%, 0.09%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.25%, 0.3%, 0.35%, 0.4%, 0.45%, 0.5%, 0.55%, 0.6%, 0.65%, 0.7%, 0.75%, 0.8%, 0.9%, 0.95%, 1%, etc., of the material to be dried.

[0055] S2. The pre-dried material is dried under low temperature conditions to obtain a dried material.

[0056] In some embodiments of this application, the low-temperature condition includes at least one of the following: temperature ≤ 90°C.

[0057] In this embodiment, orthoester compounds are used as liquid desiccants. When orthoester compounds react with water, they generate corresponding alcohols and esters. The generated alcohols and esters evaporate completely at low temperatures, leaving no residue. Therefore, using orthoester compounds allows for drying at relatively low temperatures. Limiting the low-temperature condition to ≤90°C reduces potential thermal damage to the material from high temperatures, preserving its original properties and structure. It also reduces energy consumption and production costs. Furthermore, limiting the low-temperature condition to ≤90°C allows for a more stable drying process, avoiding uneven drying or over-drying that may occur at high temperatures, thus improving drying efficiency and ensuring the quality of the dried material. For example, the low-temperature condition can be 50°C, 55°C, 60°C, 65°C, 70°C, 75°C, 80°C, 85°C, 90°C, etc.

[0058] In some embodiments of this application, the drying time is 0.5 hours to 2 hours.

[0059] The drying time is limited to 0.5 to 2 hours, allowing the alcohols and esters formed after the reaction of orthoester compounds with water to evaporate completely, avoiding leaving residues on or inside the dried material. For example, the drying time can be 0.5 hours, 0.6 hours, 0.7 hours, 0.8 hours, 0.9 hours, 1 hour, 1.1 hours, 1.2 hours, 1.3 hours, 1.4 hours, 1.5 hours, 1.6 hours, 1.7 hours, 1.8 hours, 1.9 hours, 2 hours, etc.

[0060] The method of using orthoester compounds as liquid desiccants is based on the application of orthoester compounds as liquid desiccants described in any of the above embodiments. The specific implementation of the application of orthoester compounds as liquid desiccants can be referred to the above embodiments and common knowledge in the art. Since the method of using orthoester compounds as liquid desiccants adopts some or all of the technical solutions of the above embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0061] Based on a general inventive concept, embodiments of this application provide a vacuum insulation panel, comprising: a core material, a barrier film bag, a getter, and a desiccant, wherein the desiccant is an orthoester compound.

[0062] In some embodiments of this application, the orthoester compound includes triethyl orthoformate or ethyl orthoformate.

[0063] In this embodiment, orthoester compounds are innovatively used as a novel liquid desiccant. The desiccant addition process involves uniformly spraying the triethyl orthoformate desiccant onto the surface of the core material using an ultra-low volume sprayer and then drying it in a low-temperature oven.

[0064] Compared to traditional solid desiccants, this application innovatively uses a liquid desiccant sprayed onto the core material surface. The liquid desiccant has a large effective area on the core material surface, making it suitable for various sizes and irregular shapes. Furthermore, the liquid desiccant utilizes an active dehydration technology, which can more thoroughly remove moisture from the inner layer of the core material. Moreover, the preparation process does not require high-temperature baking; the reactants can be completely removed at low temperatures after dehydration, achieving both high-efficiency dehydration and effective energy reduction, while also solving problems such as high-temperature shrinkage and curling deformation of the core material.

[0065] The vacuum insulation panels obtained in this application embodiment can be widely used in insulation fields such as refrigerator insulation, residential insulation, cold storage insulation, insulation boxes, water heater insulation, and microwave oven insulation.

[0066] In some embodiments of this application, the core material includes one or more of the following: silicon powder, foam plastic, inorganic fiber, and organic fiber.

[0067] The core material of vacuum insulation panels varies widely, typically including one or more of the following: silicon powder, foamed plastics, inorganic fibers, and organic fibers. The selection and combination of these materials aim to provide high porosity, good vacuuming performance, and sufficient structural strength to meet the performance requirements of vacuum insulation panels.

[0068] Silica-containing powders, such as fumed silica, possess excellent thermal insulation properties and chemical stability. Furthermore, the high porosity of fumed silica helps reduce gas residue during vacuuming, improving insulation performance. Foamed plastics, such as polyurethane foam and polystyrene foam, are lightweight, have high porosity, and offer good thermal insulation. The closed-cell structure of foamed plastics helps reduce gas convection, improving insulation efficiency. Inorganic fibers, such as glass fiber, possess high strength and stability, capable of withstanding certain mechanical pressures. The network structure of inorganic fibers helps increase the overall strength and stability of the core material. Organic fibers, such as polyester and polyacrylonitrile fibers, are lightweight, soft, and easy to process. The addition of organic fibers can improve the flexibility and processing performance of the core material.

[0069] In some embodiments of this application, the getter includes a mixture of at least two of manganese dioxide, manganese trioxide, manganese tetroxide, copper oxide, cerium dioxide, cobalt tetroxide, cobalt trioxide, aluminum oxide, zinc dioxide, and silver oxide.

[0070] Getter is an indispensable component of vacuum insulation panels. Its main function is to absorb gases, such as hydrogen, oxygen, and water vapor, that permeate into the panel during the vacuum sealing process and use, thereby maintaining the vacuum level within the panel. The use of getter can significantly improve the performance stability and service life of vacuum insulation panels.

[0071] Using a mixture of metal oxides as a getter, the metal oxides can chemically react with the gas that permeates into the plate to generate stable compounds, thereby fixing the gas inside the getter.

[0072] In some embodiments of this application, the barrier film bag contains a multilayer composite film material, which includes any one of double-sided aluminized film, double-sided aluminum-free film, and anodized / anodized film.

[0073] The barrier film bags for vacuum insulation panels utilize multi-layered composite film materials that play a crucial role in barrier performance, heat radiation reflection, aesthetics and protection, transparency and display effects, environmental friendliness and recyclability. Double-sided aluminized film is a composite material with an aluminum layer coated on both sides. Double-sided aluminum-free film is a composite material that does not contain aluminum and is typically made by laminating multiple polymers. Yin-yang film is a special type of composite film material whose structure usually includes two layers of films with different properties.

[0074] The advantages of this application are mainly reflected in the following aspects: by innovatively using orthoester compounds as liquid desiccants and applying them in the drying process of vacuum insulation panels:

[0075] In summary, this application innovatively uses orthoester compounds as liquid desiccants and applies them to the drying process of vacuum insulation panels, achieving multiple advantages such as efficient water removal, wide applicability, energy saving and environmental protection, improved performance of vacuum insulation panels, optimized production processes, and a wide range of applications. These advantages not only improve the performance and quality of vacuum insulation panels but also reduce production costs and environmental pollution, resulting in significant economic and social benefits. Specific advantages are as follows:

[0076] (1) Highly efficient dehydration and cleanliness. Orthoester compounds react readily with water at room temperature, enabling them to efficiently capture trace amounts of moisture in the system. Compared to the passive moisture absorption method of traditional solid desiccants, this active dehydration technology can more thoroughly remove moisture from the core material. Simultaneously, the alcohols and esters generated after the reaction of orthoester compounds with water evaporate completely at low temperatures, leaving no residue and ensuring the cleanliness and efficiency of the drying process.

[0077] (2) Wide applicability and flexibility. Liquid desiccants can cover the entire surface of the core material and even penetrate into the internal structure of the core material, thereby ensuring that moisture in all parts of the core material can be effectively removed. At the same time, orthoester compounds, as liquid desiccants, can be flexibly applied to various complex and irregular core material structures to achieve comprehensive drying effects.

[0078] (3) Energy saving and environmental protection. Using orthoester compounds allows for drying at lower temperatures, reducing energy consumption and material deformation caused by high-temperature baking. This lowers production costs and aligns with current environmental trends. Furthermore, the products of the orthoester compound reaction are easily volatilized and removed, preventing environmental pollution. Compared to traditional high-temperature baking methods, the method described in this application reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

[0079] (4) Improve the performance of vacuum insulation panels. By efficiently removing moisture from the core material, the vacuum level inside the vacuum insulation panel is maintained, thereby improving its insulation performance and service life. At the same time, the low-temperature drying process avoids problems such as material curling and deformation that may be caused by high-temperature baking, thus maintaining the original performance and structure of the core material.

[0080] (5) Optimize the production process. Using orthoester compounds as liquid desiccants simplifies the drying process of vacuum insulation panels, reducing production time and costs. At the same time, the spraying process can complete the coating task quickly and evenly, and is suitable for large-area or complex-shaped vacuum insulation panel core materials, thus improving production efficiency.

[0081] (6) Wide range of applications. The vacuum insulation panel obtained in this application can be widely used in the fields of refrigerator insulation, residential insulation, cold storage insulation, insulation boxes, water heater insulation, microwave oven insulation, etc., meeting the needs of different scenarios.

[0082] The present application is further illustrated below with reference to specific embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the application. Experimental methods in the following embodiments that do not specify specific conditions are generally determined according to industry standards. If there is no corresponding industry standard, then generally accepted international standards, conventional conditions, or conditions recommended by the manufacturer are followed.

[0083] Example 1

[0084] This embodiment provides an application of orthoester compounds as liquid desiccants for drying the core material of vacuum insulation panels, wherein the orthoester compound is triethyl orthoformate.

[0085] The triethyl orthoformate has the following properties: active ingredient content exceeding 98%, viscosity of 20 cps / 25℃ to 100 cps / 25℃, and texture as a colorless, transparent, low-viscosity liquid.

[0086] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the vacuum insulation panel provided in Embodiment 1 of this application.

[0087] like Figure 2 As shown, based on the above application, this embodiment also provides a method for drying the core material of a vacuum insulation panel using orthoester compounds, the method comprising:

[0088] S11. Divide the core material with a mass of 1568g, a length of 1200mm, and a width of 500mm into 4 equal parts, then seal and dry them to obtain 4 parts of core material 1 to be dried. Accurately weigh 4.0g of anhydrous triethyl orthoformate and transfer it to an ultra-low volume sprayer. After spreading the 4 parts of core material to be dried flat, spray 1g evenly on the surface of each part of core material using an ultra-low volume sprayer containing triethyl orthoformate. Let it stand for 5 minutes to allow the triethyl orthoformate to react completely with water to obtain 4 parts of pre-dried core material 2.

[0089] Wherein, the mass of the triethyl orthoformate is 0.255% of the mass of the core material to be dried, the diameter of the mist particles in the spraying process is 20 micrometers to 100 micrometers, and the raw material of the core material is glass fiber nonwoven fabric;

[0090] S12. Transfer 4 portions of the pre-dried core material to a room temperature oven and bake at 90°C for 1 hour. Turn on the induced draft fan to remove the reaction products such as ethanol, and obtain the dried core material.

[0091] Based on the above usage method, this application provides a vacuum insulation panel, comprising: the aforementioned dry core material, a barrier film bag 3, a getter, and a desiccant, wherein the desiccant is triethyl orthoformate. The preparation method of the vacuum insulation panel may include:

[0092] The four portions of dried core material were stacked together and fed into barrier film bag 3 along with the getter. Barrier film bag 3 was then placed in a vacuum sealing machine, and the vacuum was maintained at 5 × 10⁻⁶. -3 When the pressure is below Pa, it is packaged to obtain a vacuum insulation board semi-finished product 4. After standing, a new vacuum insulation board finished product 5 with a thickness of 12.57mm is obtained.

[0093] The getter is a combination of manganese dioxide, cerium dioxide, and zinc dioxide.

[0094] The barrier film bag is made of double-sided aluminized film.

[0095] Example 2

[0096] This embodiment is based on Embodiment 1, with the following modifications:

[0097] In step S11 of the method of use in Example 1, the mass of triethyl orthoformate is 0.07% of the mass of the core material to be dried.

[0098] Example 3

[0099] This embodiment is based on Embodiment 1, with the following modifications:

[0100] In step S11 of the method of use in Example 1, the mass of triethyl orthoformate is 1% of the mass of the core material to be dried.

[0101] Example 4

[0102] This embodiment is based on Embodiment 1, with the following modifications:

[0103] The orthoester compound is orthoethyl acetate.

[0104] Comparative Example 1

[0105] The desiccant used in the preparation of the vacuum insulation panel is ordinary CaO. The specific preparation process of the vacuum insulation panel is as follows:

[0106] A core material weighing 1458g, cut to a length of 1200mm and a width of 500mm, was baked in a 120℃ oven for approximately 2 hours. Then, 10g of CaO desiccant and getter were placed inside the core material, and it was quickly fed into a barrier film bag. The barrier film bag was then placed in a vacuum sealing machine, and the vacuum was maintained at 5×10⁻⁶. -3 Encapsulation was performed below Pa to obtain a vacuum insulation board with a thickness of 11.48 mm.

[0107] Comparative Example 2

[0108] This embodiment is based on Embodiment 1, with the following modifications:

[0109] In step S11 of the method of use in Example 1, the mass of triethyl orthoformate is 1.015% of the mass of the core material to be dried.

[0110] Comparative Example 3

[0111] This embodiment is based on Embodiment 1, with the following modifications:

[0112] In step S11 of the usage method in Example 1, the mass of triethyl orthoformate is 0.0629% of the mass of the core material to be dried.

[0113] Comparative Example 4

[0114] This embodiment is based on Embodiment 1, with the following modifications:

[0115] In step S11 of the method of use in Example 1, the mass of triethyl orthoformate is 1.423% of the mass of the core material to be dried.

[0116] Comparative Example 5

[0117] This embodiment is based on Embodiment 1, with the following modifications:

[0118] In step S11 of the method of use in Example 1, the mass of triethyl orthoformate is 1.656% of the mass of the core material to be dried.

[0119] The performance of the vacuum insulation panels obtained in Examples 1-4 and Comparative Examples 1-5 was measured, and the results are shown in Table 1.

[0120] Table 1. Performance of the vacuum insulation panels obtained in Examples 1-4 and Comparative Examples 1-5

[0121]

[0122]

[0123] Comparing the examples with Comparative Example 1, it is evident that triethyl orthoformate has a better drying effect on the core material and a lower thermal conductivity compared to CaO. However, as shown in Comparative Examples 2-5, adding too little triethyl orthoformate fails to achieve the best drying effect, while adding too much results in supersaturated triethyl orthoformate residue within the core material that is difficult to remove, shortening the heat conduction path within the core material. Neither of these conditions leads to a lower thermal conductivity. Therefore, this invention controls the amount of triethyl orthoformate sprayed to be 0.07%–1% of the core material weight.

[0124] Furthermore, one or more technical solutions in the embodiments of this application have at least the following technical effects or advantages:

[0125] In this embodiment, triethyl orthoformate (C7H) is innovatively selected. 16 O3 is used as a desiccant. This compound is readily decomposed in water, enabling it to efficiently capture and remove trace amounts of moisture from the system. Simultaneously, its decomposition products (ethanol and ethyl formate) evaporate completely at low temperatures, leaving no residue and ensuring the cleanliness and efficiency of the drying process.

[0126] In this embodiment, the desiccant addition process employs an ultra-low volume sprayer to uniformly spray triethyl orthoformate onto the core material surface using a spraying process. This process ensures that the desiccant evenly covers the core material surface and even penetrates into the internal structure of the core material, thereby achieving a comprehensive drying effect. Simultaneously, after spraying, the core material is placed in a low-temperature oven for drying. Compared to traditional high-temperature baking methods, low-temperature drying reduces energy consumption and prevents the core material from curling and deforming due to high temperatures, thus ensuring the performance and quality of the vacuum insulation panel.

[0127] In this embodiment, the liquid desiccant can cover the entire surface of the core material and even penetrate into the internal structure of the core material, thereby ensuring that moisture in all parts of the core material can be effectively removed. Furthermore, the liquid desiccant is not limited by the size and shape of the core material and can be flexibly applied to various complex and irregularly shaped core material structures.

[0128] In this embodiment, triethyl orthoformate, as a representative of active dehydration technology, can more efficiently capture and remove moisture from the core material. This technology converts moisture into easily removable substances through a chemical reaction, thereby achieving a more thorough drying effect.

[0129] In this embodiment, triethyl orthoformate is used as a liquid desiccant, which enables drying at a lower temperature, reducing energy consumption and material deformation caused by high-temperature baking. Simultaneously, the volatile products generated during the drying process are easily volatilized and removed, causing no environmental pollution.

[0130] In this embodiment, by efficiently removing moisture from the core material, the vacuum insulation panel obtained by the present invention can maintain a higher vacuum level, thereby improving its insulation performance and service life.

[0131] In this embodiment, the vacuum insulation panel can be widely used in insulation fields such as refrigerator insulation, residential insulation, cold storage insulation, insulated boxes, water heater insulation, and microwave oven insulation. These applications have extremely high performance requirements for insulation materials, and the vacuum insulation panel provided by this invention can meet these requirements due to its excellent insulation performance and stability.

[0132] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.

Claims

1. An application of orthoester compounds as liquid desiccants.

2. The application according to claim 1, characterized in that, The orthoester compounds include: triethyl orthoformate or ethyl orthoformate.

3. The application according to claim 1, characterized in that, The triethyl orthoformate has the following properties: active ingredient content exceeding 98%, viscosity of 20 cps / 25℃ to 100 cps / 25℃, and texture as a colorless, transparent, low-viscosity liquid.

4. The application according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid desiccant is used for drying the vacuum insulation panel.

5. A method of using orthoester compounds as liquid desiccants, the method comprising: The orthoester compound is coated onto the surface of the material to be dried to obtain a pre-dried material; The pre-dried material is dried under low temperature conditions to obtain a dried material.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The mass of the orthoester compound is 0.07% to 1% of the mass of the material to be dried.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The coating is applied using a spraying process, where the diameter of the spray droplets is between 20 micrometers and 100 micrometers.

8. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The low-temperature condition includes at least one of the following: temperature ≤ 90℃.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The drying time is 0.5 hours to 2 hours.

10. A vacuum insulation panel, comprising: The product comprises a core material, a barrier film bag, a getter, and a desiccant, wherein the desiccant is an orthoester compound.

11. The vacuum insulation panel according to claim 10, characterized in that, The orthoester compounds include: triethyl orthoformate or ethyl orthoformate.

12. The vacuum insulation panel according to claim 10, characterized in that, The core material includes one or more of the following: silicon powder, foam plastic, inorganic fiber, and organic fiber.

13. The vacuum insulation panel according to claim 10, characterized in that, The getter comprises a mixture of at least two of the following: manganese dioxide, manganese trioxide, manganese tetroxide, copper oxide, cerium dioxide, cobalt tetroxide, cobalt trioxide, aluminum oxide, zinc dioxide, and silver oxide.

14. The vacuum insulation panel according to claim 10, characterized in that, The barrier film bag contains a multi-layer composite film material, which includes any one of double-sided aluminized film, double-sided aluminum-free film, and yin-yang film.

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