Alumina-Silicate Fire Insulator for Lightweight Flame Barriers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fire protection materials for aircraft are either expensive, heavy, or ineffective under operational vibrations, and current solutions fail to adequately address both flame penetration and thermal insulation while being environmentally friendly and health-safe.

Innovation Solution

A fireproof and thermal insulator product combining Alkaline Earth Silicate material with bonded alumina, where the Alkaline Earth Silicate material is between 2 mm and 20 mm thick and the alumina is between 0.5 mm and 2 mm thick, providing a lightweight, low-cost, and biodegradable solution that meets aeronautical fire protection regulations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If thermal blankets made of ceramic or silicone laminates with aluminum sheet are used, then flame penetration prevention and thermal insulation are improved, but weight and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame penetration preventionVSAvoidweight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining Alkaline Earth Silicate material with alumina in a layered structure. This composite provides both flame penetration prevention and thermal insulation properties while being lighter than traditional ceramic or silicone laminate thermal blankets, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If materials creating a charred layer are used, then flame penetration prevention is improved, but the solution becomes ineffective under vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame penetration preventionVSAvoidstability under vibration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the protective material by using Alkaline Earth Silicate material with alumina bonding, which maintains structural integrity under vibration conditions. This differs from charred layer materials that degrade under vibration, thus resolving the contradiction between flame penetration prevention and stability under vibration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If titanium firewall is used, then flame penetration prevention is improved, but weight and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame penetration preventionVSAvoidweight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite material system of Alkaline Earth Silicate material bonded with alumina, which provides fireproofing capabilities comparable to titanium firewalls but with significantly reduced weight. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between reliability in flame penetration prevention and weight reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Reliability

If thicker protective layers are used, then fire protection capability is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire protection capabilityVSAvoidthickness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the thickness parameters of the Alkaline Earth Silicate material layer (2-20 mm) and alumina layer (0.5-2 mm) to achieve effective fire protection with minimal thickness. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between fire protection capability and device complexity by providing adequate protection in a thin, space-efficient configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The product effectively prevents flame penetration and maintains low temperatures around the fire source, meeting FAR/JAR regulations, while being environmentally friendly and health-safe, with a reduced weight and cost compared to standard materials.

Implementation Method 1

the invention provides a fireproof and thermal insulator product

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

the alumina is bonded onto the Alkaline Earth Silicate material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBonding: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 3

An option widely used is the thermal blankets, mainly made of ceramic or silicone laminates with aluminum sheet. They are effective for flame penetration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFire resistance: Refractory Material

Data Source

PatentEP3636427B1Fireproof and thermal insulator product
Publication Date: 2022.06.08 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)
  • EP3636427B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4

AI summary

Fireproof and thermal insulator product (1), which comprises a material combination of: - an Earth Silicate material, and - alumina, such that the alumina is bonded onto the Earth Silicate material or is diffused inside the Earth Silicate material.