초록 ▼

Gel including a phase-change material and a gelling agent. In one embodiment, the phase-change material may be n-tetradecane, n-hexadecane or mixtures thereof. The gelling agent may be a high molecular weight styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) triblock copolymer with a styrene:rubber ratio of

Gel including a phase-change material and a gelling agent. In one embodiment, the phase-change material may be n-tetradecane, n-hexadecane or mixtures thereof. The gelling agent may be a high molecular weight styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) triblock copolymer with a styrene:rubber ratio of about 30:70 to 33:67% by weight. To form the gel, the phase-change material and the gelling agent may be mixed at an elevated temperature relative to room temperature to partially, but not completely, dissolve the gelling agent. The mixture may then be cooled to room temperature. Alternatively, the phase-change material and the gelling agent may be mixed at room temperature, and the mixture may then be heated to form a viscoelastic liquid, which is then cooled to room temperature. The invention is also directed at a method of preparing the gel, a thermal exchange implement including the gel, and a method of preparing the thermal exchange implement.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A gel comprising a phase-change material and a gelling agent, wherein the phase-change material is at least one organic phase-change material selected from the group consisting of n-tetradecane, n-hexadecane, n-octadecane, and mixtures thereof, wherein the gelling agent constitutes up to about 10

1. A gel comprising a phase-change material and a gelling agent, wherein the phase-change material is at least one organic phase-change material selected from the group consisting of n-tetradecane, n-hexadecane, n-octadecane, and mixtures thereof, wherein the gelling agent constitutes up to about 10%, by weight, of the gel, the gel being formed by (a) mixing the phase-change material and the gelling agent at an intermediate temperature that is above room temperature but is below the flash point of the phase-change material and at which the gelling agent partially, but not completely, dissolves in the phase-change material, whereby a non-homogeneous mixture is produced, and (b) then, cooling the non-homogeneous mixture to room temperature, whereby the gel is formed, the gel being non-homogenous. 2. The gel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one organic phase-change material is n-tetradecane and/or n-hexadecane. 3. The gel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gelling agent is at least one saturated olefin rubber. 4. The gel as claimed in claim 3 wherein the gelling agent is at least one hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer. 5. The gel as claimed in claim 4 wherein the gelling agent is at least one styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) tri-block copolymer. 6. The gel as claimed in claim 5 wherein the gelling agent is at least one high molecular weight styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene tri-block copolymer with a styrene:rubber ratio in the range of about 30:70 to 33:67 by weight. 7. The gel as claimed in claim 4 wherein the gelling agent is at least one styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene (SEPS) tri-block copolymer. 8. The gel as claimed in claim 7 wherein the gelling agent is at least one high molecular weight styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene tri-block copolymer with a styrene:rubber ratio of about 20:80 by weight. 9. The gel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the phase-change material is n-tetradecane and wherein the gelling agent is a high molecular weight styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene tri-block copolymer with a styrene:rubber ratio in the range of about 30:70 to 33:67 by weight. 10. A thermal exchange implement, the thermal exchange implement comprising: (a) the gel of claim 1; and(b) a container, the container holding a quantity of the gel. 11. A gel comprising a phase-change material and a gelling agent, wherein the phase-change material is n-tetradecane, wherein the gelling agent is a high molecular weight styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene tri-block copolymer with a styrene:rubber ratio in the range of about 30:70 to 33:67 by weight, and wherein the gelling agent constitutes up to about 10%, by weight, of the gel, with the phase-change material constituting the remainder of the gel, the gel being formed by (a) mixing the phase-change material and the gelling agent at an intermediate temperature that is above room temperature but is below the flash point of the phase-change material and at which the gelling agent partially, but not completely, dissolves in the phase-change material, whereby a non-homogeneous mixture is produced, and (b) then, cooling the non-homogeneous mixture to room temperature, whereby the gel is formed, the gel being non-homogeneous. 12. The gel as claimed in claim 11 wherein the gelling agent constitutes less than 6%, by weight, of the gel, with the phase-change material constituting the remainder of the gel. 13. The gel as claimed in claim 12 wherein the temperature at which the phase-change material and the gelling agent are mixed together is in the range of about 40° C. to about 55° C. 14. A gel comprising a phase-change material and a gelling agent, wherein the phase-change material is selected from the group consisting of n-tetradecane, n-hexadecane, n-octadecane, and mixtures thereof, wherein the gelling agent is a high molecular weight styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene tri-block copolymer with a styrene:rubber ratio of about 33:67 by weight and wherein the gelling agent constitutes up to about 10%, by weight, of the gel, the gel being formed by (a) mixing the phase-change material and the gelling agent at a first temperature at which the phase-change material is in a liquid state and which is below the flash point of the phase-change material, wherein the first temperature is in the range of about 15° C. to about 30° C., and at which the mixture is not a viscoelastic liquid, whereby a non-homogenous mixture is produced; (b) then, heating the non-homogeneous mixture to a second temperature that is below the flash point of the phase-change material and at which a viscoelastic liquid is formed; and (c) then, cooling the viscoelastic liquid to room temperature. 15. A gel comprising a phase-change material and a gelling agent, wherein the phase-change material is a mixture of n-tetradecane and n-hexadecane and the gelling agent is a high molecular weight styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene tri-block copolymer with a styrene:rubber ratio in the range of about 30:70 to 33:67 by weight, wherein the gelling agent constitutes up to about 10%, by weight, of the gel, the gel being formed by (a) mixing the phase-change material and the gelling agent at a first temperature at which the phase-change material is in a liquid state and which is below the flash point of the phase-change material and at which the mixture is not a viscoelastic liquid, whereby a non-homogeneous mixture is produced; (b) then, heating the non-homogeneous mixture to a second temperature that is below the flash point of the phase-change material and at which a viscoelastic liquid is formed; and (c) then, cooling the viscoelastic liquid to room temperature. 16. A thermal exchange implement, the thermal exchange implement comprising: (a) the gel of claim 15; and(b) a container, the container holding a quantity of the gel. 17. A gel comprising a phase-change material and a gelling agent, wherein the phase-change material is a mixture of n-tetradecane and n-hexadecane, wherein the gelling agent is a high molecular weight styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene tri-block copolymer with a styrene:rubber ratio in the range of about 30:70 to 33:67 by weight, wherein the gelling agent constitutes up to about 10%, by weight, of the gel, with the phase-change material constituting the remainder of the gel and wherein the gel is formed by (a) mixing the phase-change material and the gelling agent at a first temperature at which the phase-change material is in a liquid state and which is below the flash point of the phase-change material and at which the mixture is not a viscoelastic liquid, whereby a non-homogenous mixture is produced; (b) then, heating the non-homogeneous mixture to a second temperature that is below the flash point of the phase-change material and at which a viscoelastic liquid is formed; and (c) then, cooling the viscoelastic liquid to room temperature. 18. The gel as claimed in claim 17 wherein the gelling agent constitutes less than 6%, by weight, of the gel, with the phase-change material constituting the remainder of the gel. 19. A method of preparing a gel, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a phase-change material, wherein the phase-change material is at least one n-alkane;(b) providing a gelling agent, wherein the gelling agent constitutes up to about 10%, by weight, of the gel;(c) mixing the phase-change material and the gelling agent at an elevated temperature that is above room temperature but is below the flash point of the phase-change material and at which the gelling agent partially, but not completely, dissolves in the phase-change material, whereby a non-homogeneous mixture is produced; and(d) cooling the non-homogeneous mixture from the elevated temperature to room temperature. 20. A method of preparing a gel, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a phase-change material;(b) providing a gelling agent;(c) mixing the phase-change material and the gelling agent at a first temperature at which the phase-change material is in a liquid state and which is below the flash point of the phase-change material and at which the mixture is not a viscoelastic liquid, whereby a non-homogenous mixture is produced;(d) then, heating the non-homogeneous mixture to a second temperature that is below the flash point of the phase-change material and at which a viscoelastic liquid is formed; and(e) then, cooling the viscoelastic liquid to room temperature. 21. The method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the phase-change material is at least one organic phase-change material. 22. The method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the at least one organic phase-change material is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of n-alkanes, fatty acid esters, fatty alcohols, and fatty acids. 23. The method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the at least one organic phase-change material is selected from the group consisting of n-tetradecane, n-hexadecane, n-octadecane, and mixtures thereof. 24. The method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the phase-change material is n-tetradecane and/or n-hexadecane. 25. The method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the gelling agent is at least one saturated olefin rubber. 26. The method as claimed in claim 25 wherein the gelling agent is at least one hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer. 27. The method as claimed in claim 26 wherein the gelling agent is at least one styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) tri-block copolymer. 28. The method as claimed in claim 27 wherein the gelling agent is at least one high molecular weight styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene tri-block copolymer with a styrene:rubber ratio in the range of about 30:70 to 33:67 by weight. 29. The method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the phase-change material is n-hexadecane and the gelling agent is a high molecular weight styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene tri-block copolymer with a styrene:rubber ratio in the range of about 30:70 to 33:67 by weight. 30. The method as claimed in claim 26 wherein the gelling agent is at least one styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene (SEPS) tri-block copolymer. 31. The method as claimed in claim 30 wherein the gelling agent is at least one high molecular weight styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene tri-block copolymer with a styrene:rubber ratio of about 20:80 by weight. 32. The method as claimed in claim 20 further comprising, after the mixing step and before the heating step, the step of allowing the non-homogenous mixture to rest for a period of time ranging from about 30 minutes to about 72 hours. 33. The method as claimed in claim 20 further comprising, after the mixing step, placing the non-homogeneous mixture in a thermal exchange implement container, and wherein the heating and cooling steps are performed on the non-homogeneous mixture while within the thermal exchange implement container. 34. The method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the first temperature is in the range of about 15° C. to about 30° C. and wherein the second temperature is between about 40° C. and about 80° C. 35. The method as claimed in claim 34 wherein the second temperature is between about 45° C. and about 65° C. 36. The method as claimed in claim 20 wherein said heating comprises a ramp phase in which the temperature is ramped from the first temperature to the second temperature and a constant phase in which the temperature is maintained at the second temperature. 37. The method as claimed in claim 36 wherein the ramp phase ranges from a rate of about 0.025° C./minute to about 2.5° C./minute. 38. The method as claimed in claim 36 wherein the ramp phase ranges from a rate of about 0.15° C./minute to about 0.30° C./minute. 39. The method as claimed in claim 36 wherein the constant phase ranges from about 0.5 hours to about 20 hours. 40. The method as claimed in claim 39 wherein the constant phase ranges from about 6 hours to about 16 hours. 41. The method as claimed in claim 20 wherein said cooling step comprises cooling at a rate of about 0.025° C./minute to about 2.5° C./minute. 42. The method as claimed in claim 20 wherein said cooling step comprises cooling at a rate of about 0.15° C./minute to about 0.30° C./minute. 43. The method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the first temperature is in the range of about 19° C. to about 25° C. 44. The method as claimed in claim 43 wherein the second temperature is in the range of about 40° C. to about 80° C. and wherein the cooling step comprises cooling the viscoelastic liquid from the second temperature to room temperature. 45. A method of preparing a thermal exchange implement, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a phase-change material;(b) providing a gelling agent;(c) mixing together the phase-change material and the gelling agent at an elevated temperature that is above room temperature but is below the flash point of the phase-change material and at which the gelling agent partially, but not completely, dissolves in the phase-change material, whereby a non-homogeneous mixture is produced;(d) then, cooling the non-homogeneous mixture from the elevated temperature to room temperature, whereby a gel is formed; and(e) depositing the gel in a thermal exchange implement container. 46. A method of preparing a thermal exchange implement, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a phase-change material;(b) providing a gelling agent;(c) mixing the phase-change material and the gelling agent at a first temperature at which the phase-change material is in a liquid state and which is below the flash point of the phase-change material and at which the mixture is not a viscoelastic liquid, whereby a non-homogenous mixture is produced;(d) then, depositing the non-homogeneous mixture in a thermal exchange implement container;(e) then, while the non-homogeneous mixture is in the thermal exchange implement container, heating the non-homogeneous mixture to a second temperature that is below the flash point of the phase-change material and at which the non-homogeneous mixture forms a viscoelastic liquid; and(f) then, while the viscoelastic liquid is in the thermal exchange implement container, cooling the viscoelastic liquid to room temperature.