W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Aspen Aerogels, Inc.

W. L. Gore & Associati, S.r.l.

Leslie N Rikleen

George Leighton Gould

Owen Richard Evans

Nicholas Anthony Zafiropoulos

David J Mihalcik

Michael Magyar

Eric O'Bryan

Anit Dutta

Andrea Giupponi

Eric O'bryan

Eric O'BRYAN

The present disclosure can provide an aerogel composite. The aerogel composite comprises at least one base layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, the base layer comprising a reinforced aerogel composition which comprises a reinforcement material and a monolithic aerogel framework, a first facing layer comprising a first facing material attached to the top surface of the base layer, and a second facing layer comprising a second facing material attached to the bottom surface of the base layer. At least a portion of the monolithic aerogel framework of the base layer extends into at least a portion of both the first facing layer and the second facing layer. The first facing material and the second facing material can each comprise or consist essentially of a non-fluoropolymeric material.

Laminates comprising reinforced aerogel composites

Porous air permeable expanded PTFE composite with enhanced mechanical and thermal properties are described. The node and fibril microstructure of expanded PTFE is coated on and within the node and fibril microstructure with a suitably chosen polymer to impart property enhancement while maintaining porosity. The coating polymer content of the composite is maintained between 3 and 25 weight percent of the composite and the areal mass of the composite is less than 75 gm/m. Exemplary enhancement to properties may include, among others, Average Tensile Strength (ATS) (in MPa)&#xd7;Z strength (in MPa) of 50 MPaor greater, preferably 100 MPaor greater, with air flow less than 500 Gurley seconds. Coating polymers with appropriate temperature resistance provides composites which further exhibit shrinkage of less than 10% at temperatures up to 300&#xb0; C. with air flow of less than 500 Gurley seconds.

Porous air permeable polytetrafluoroethylene composites with improved mechanical and thermal properties

Described herein are insulating structures that include at least one microporous layer including a plurality of pores, a porous layer adjacent to the microporous layer, and a monolithic aerogel structure extending through the plurality of pores of the microporous layer and through at least part of the porous layer. The microporous layer filters aerogel dust from cracked or damaged aerogel within the scaffold, slowing or preventing loss of dust from the insulating structures.

Insulating structures

Described herein are aerogel composites. The aerogel composites comprise at least one base layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, the base layer comprising a reinforced aerogel composition which comprises a reinforcement material and a monolithic aerogel framework, a first facing layer comprising a first facing material attached to the top surface of the base layer, and a second facing layer comprising a second facing material attached to the bottom surface of the base layer. At least a portion of the monolithic aerogel framework of the base layer extends into at least a portion of both the first facing layer and the second facing layer. The first facing material and the second facing material each consist essentially of fluoropolymer material.

The invention is an article of footwear incorporating insulation material, such as a low bulk insulation material, to provide warmth in cold weather, yet with the style, agility, and breathability of a typical conventional shoe or boot. Additionally, in a further embodiment, the invention includes these features in a shoe or boot which is also waterproof and breathable. These aspects of the present invention are achieved through a placement, or mapping, of low bulk insulation to maximize the footwear article attributes of warmth, style, agility, and breathability.

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Newark, DE, United States of America

Leslie N Rikleen