Wrappable Textile Sleeve with Composite Foil Layer to Reduce Cracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Textile sleeves with reflective foil layers used for protecting elongate members from high heat conditions tend to crack, reducing their useful life and appearance, especially at the closure tape region.
Innovation Solution
A wrappable textile sleeve design featuring a polymeric film layer with a specific thickness and a soft aluminum metal foil layer bonded together, along with a woven textile layer and closure tape with a woven scrim and metal foil, to enhance flexibility and prevent cracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a foil layer is applied to the outer surface of the textile sleeve wall for thermal protection, then thermal reflection capability is improved, but the foil layer becomes prone to cracking when exposed to high heat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a composite material structure consisting of a textile layer, polymeric film layer, and metal foil layer bonded together. This composite construction combines the thermal reflection capability of the foil layer with the flexibility and heat resistance of the polymeric film and textile layers, preventing the foil from cracking while maintaining thermal protection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies precise thickness parameters for each layer: the polymeric film layer thickness ranges from 0.0001 to 0.0004 inches, and the metal foil layer thickness ranges from 0.00035 to 0.0010 inches. By optimizing these dimensional parameters, the composite structure achieves both flexibility to prevent cracking and sufficient thermal reflection capability.
2Ease of operation
If the foil layer is made thinner to improve flexibility, then ease of wrapping is improved, but the foil layer becomes more susceptible to cracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system where a thin metal foil layer (0.00035-0.0010 inches) is bonded to a polymeric film layer (0.0001-0.0004 inches) and textile layer. The composite structure provides the flexibility needed for wrapping while the polymeric film and textile layers support the thin foil, preventing it from cracking during installation and service.
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 design significantly reduces cracking and extends the useful life of the sleeve by maintaining flexibility and hoop strength, even at high temperatures, while maintaining a smooth arc and preventing kinking.
Implementation Method 1
The polymer film layer and the metal foil layer are bonded together by an adhesive
Data Source
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AI summary
A wrappable textile sleeve and method of reducing cracking in a foil layer of a wrappable textile sleeve are provided. The sleeve includes an elongate wall extending along a longitudinal axis between opposite ends with lengthwise extending edges extending along the longitudinal axis between the opposite ends. The wall includes a textile layer, a polymeric film layer fixed to the inner textile layer and a metal foil layer fixed to the polymeric film layer. The polymeric film layer has a first thickness and the metal foil layer has a second thickness, wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.