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An insulated article having a first insulation region comprising a first polymeric material and first hollow ceramic microspheres and a second insulation region comprising a second polymeric material and second hollow ceramic microspheres. The first insulation region has a thermal conductivity that

An insulated article having a first insulation region comprising a first polymeric material and first hollow ceramic microspheres and a second insulation region comprising a second polymeric material and second hollow ceramic microspheres. The first insulation region has a thermal conductivity that is no greater than the thermal conductivity of the first polymeric material and a volumetric heat capacity in a range of 60% to 90% of the volumetric heat capacity of the first polymeric material. The second insulation region has a thermal conductivity that is no greater than 90% of the thermal conductivity of the second polymeric material and a volumetric heat capacity that is less than 60% of the volumetric heat capacity of the second polymeric material. A method for making a composition for insulating an article is also described.

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1. An insulated article, comprising: an article having a surface;a first insulation region substantially covering the surface of the article, the first insulation region having a first thermal conductivity and a first volumetric heat capacity, the first insulation region comprising a first polymeric

1. An insulated article, comprising: an article having a surface;a first insulation region substantially covering the surface of the article, the first insulation region having a first thermal conductivity and a first volumetric heat capacity, the first insulation region comprising a first polymeric material and at least 10% by volume first hollow ceramic microspheres, based on the total volume of the first insulation region, wherein the first polymeric material has a second thermal conductivity and a second volumetric heat capacity, wherein the first thermal conductivity is no greater than the second thermal conductivity, and wherein the first volumetric heat capacity is in a range from 60% to 90% of the second volumetric heat capacity; anda second insulation region substantially covering the surface of the article, the second insulation region having a third thermal conductivity and a third volumetric heat capacity, the second insulation region comprising a second polymeric material and second hollow ceramic microspheres, wherein the second polymeric material has a fourth thermal conductivity and a fourth volumetric heat capacity, wherein the third thermal conductivity is not greater than 90% of the fourth thermal conductivity, wherein the third volumetric heat capacity is less than 60% of the fourth volumetric heat capacity, and wherein the first polymeric material and the second polymeric material are independently selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics, thermosets, and mixtures thereof, with at least one of (a) the proviso that at least one of the first polymeric material or the second polymeric material is a thermoplastic or (b) the proviso that the first insulation region is interposed between the article and the second insulation region. 2. The insulated article of claim 1, wherein the first polymeric material and the second polymeric material are independently thermoplastics comprising at least one of polypropylene or polyethylene. 3. The insulated article of claim 2, wherein the thermoplastic is polypropylene. 4. The insulated article of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first polymeric material or the second polymeric material is independently a thermoset selected from the group consisting of epoxy, polyurethane, silicone, and polyester. 5. The insulated article of claim 1, wherein the first hollow ceramic microspheres are glass microbubbles having an average true density in a range from 0.5g/cm3 to 1.2 g/cm3. 6. The insulated article of claim 5, wherein the article comprises a conduit. 7. The insulated article of claim 5, wherein the insulated article is submerged in water at a depth of at least 100 meters and wherein the article contains at least oil within. 8. The insulated article of claim 5, wherein the second hollow ceramic microspheres are glass microbubbles having an average true density in a range from 0.1 g/cm3 to 0.5 g/cm3. 9. The insulated article of claim 5, wherein the first polymeric material is polypropylene. 10. The insulated article of claim 1, wherein the second hollow ceramic microspheres are glass microbubbles having an average true density in a range from 0.1 g/cm3 to 0.5 g/cm3. 11. The insulated article of claim 1, wherein the first hollow ceramic microspheres comprise at least 20% by volume of the first insulation region, based on the total volume of the first insulation region. 12. The insulated article of claim 1, wherein the first insulation region and the second insulation region are located in separate layers. 13. The insulated article of claim 1, further comprising a third insulation region interposed between the first insulation region and the second insulation region, the third insulation region comprising a gradient of first hollow ceramic microspheres and second hollow ceramic microspheres. 14. The insulated article of claim 1, wherein the article comprises a conduit. 15. A method of transporting oil, the method comprising introducing oil into an end of the conduit of claim 14 and causing the oil to flow through the conduit. 16. The insulated article of claim 1, wherein the insulated article is submerged in water at a depth of at least 100 meters, and wherein the article contains at least oil within. 17. The insulated article of claim 1, wherein the first insulation region is interposed between the surface of the article and the second insulation region. 18. The insulated article of claim 1, wherein the second insulation region is interposed between the surface of the article and the first insulation region. 19. A method for making a composition for insulating an article having a surface, the method comprising: obtaining requirements data defining thermal requirements for a first insulation region having a first thermal conductivity and a first volumetric heat capacity and a second insulation region having a third thermal conductivity and a third volumetric heat capacity, wherein the first insulation region and the second insulation region substantially cover the surface of the insulated article;based at least partially on the thermal requirements for the first insulation region, generating a first formulation for a composition for the first insulation region, the composition comprising a first polymeric material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics, thermosets, and mixtures thereof and at least 10% by volume first hollow ceramic microspheres, based on the total volume of the first insulation region, wherein the first polymeric material has a second thermal conductivity and a second volumetric heat capacity, wherein the first thermal conductivity is no greater than the second thermal conductivity, and wherein the first volumetric heat capacity is in a range from 60% to 90% of the second volumetric heat capacity;based at least partially on the thermal requirements for the second insulation region, generating a second formulation for a composition for the second insulation region, the composition comprising a second polymeric material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics, thermosets, and mixtures thereof and second hollow ceramic microspheres, wherein the second polymeric material has a fourth thermal conductivity and a fourth volumetric heat capacity, wherein the third thermal conductivity is not greater than 90% of the fourth thermal conductivity, and wherein the third volumetric heat capacity is less than 60% of the fourth volumetric heat capacity;making a composition for the first insulation region having the first formulation; andmaking a composition for the second insulation region having the second formulation. 20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising applying the compositions for the first and second insulation regions to the article.