Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and pressure vessels for solid-state microcellular processing of thermoplastic rolls and sheets. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method for making a gas impregnated interleaved roll, which method comprises: providing a pressure vessel having an internal pressure chamber and a rotatable shaft horizontally positioned within the pressure chamber; placing an interleaved roll about the rotatable shaft and within the pressure chamber, wherein the interleaved roll is made from a thermoplastic material sheet interleaved together with a gas-channeling material sheet; pressurizing the pressure chamber to a selected pressure; rotating the rotatable shaft having the interleaved roll thereabouts (thereby rotating the interleaved roll) while under pressure for a selected period of time; and depressurizing the internal chamber to yield the gas impregnated interleaved roll.

Abstract: An inflatable insulating panel consisting of a plurality of sheet-form polyolefin layers, and its manner of fabrication, is provided. An outer peripheral seal forms an inflatable panel, with an intermediate interconnected web of layers formed out of an array of alternating seams of attachment between the outer and intermediate adjacent layers. Upon inflation of the panel, the interconnected web expands to form a plurality of individual baffle chambers.

Abstract: An inflatable insulating panel consisting of a plurality of sheetform polyolefin layers, and its manner of fabrication, is provided. An outer peripheral seal forms an inflatable panel, with an intermediate interconnected web of layers formed out of an array of alternating seams of attachment between the outer and intermediate adjacent layers. Upon inflation of the panel, the interconnected web expands to form a plurality of individual baffle chambers.

Abstract: A method of forming an inflatable insulating panel consisting of a plurality of sheetform polyolefin layers is provided. A pair of sheetform outer layers and a plurality of intermediate sheetform layers are assembled in a vertically overlying manner. An array of metal stripes are formed on at least one surface of each intermediate layer and are collectively arranged such that the arrays of metal stripes on vertically adjacent layers are parallel to and laterally offset from one another. An array of alternating seams of attachment are formed joining adjacent layers, with the outer layers joined to one another about their respective outer peripheries. Upon inflation of the panel, the interconnected adjacent layers form a web that expands to create a plurality of individual baffle chambers.

Abstract: An insulating liner is provided having an inflatable, double outer layer defining an interior container space for thermally-sensitive cargo. A phase change material layer is formed upon or carried by a baffle material lying within the inflated layer. The multiple layers forming the insulating liner are attached to one-another in a series of inflation seals that form a plurality of interconnected inflatable chambers which, when inflated, provide structural definition to the interior containment space.

Abstract: An insulating bag is provided having an inflatable, double outer layer defining an interior container space for thermally-sensitive cargo. A surface reflective to radiant thermal energy lies within the inflated outer layer as a layer on an interior surface of the wall and/or as a surface formed on a baffle material lying within the inflated layer. The inner and outer layers of the double outer layers are attached to one-another in a series of attachment seams that together comprise configuration segments that, when inflated, provide structural definition to the interior containment space.

Abstract: An inflatable insulating panel consisting of a plurality of sheetform polyolefin layers, and its manner of fabrication, is provided. An outer peripheral seal forms an inflatable panel, with an intermediate interconnected web of layers formed out of an array of alternating seams of attachment between the outer and intermediate adjacent layers. Upon inflation of the panel, the interconnected web expands to form a plurality of individual baffle chambers.

Abstract: An insulating bag is provided having an inflatable, double outer layer defining an interior container space for thermally-sensitive cargo. A surface reflective to radiant thermal energy lies within the inflated outer layer as a layer on an interior surface of the wall and/or as a surface formed on a baffle material lying within the inflated layer. The inner and outer layers of the double outer layers are attached to one-another in a series of attachment seams that together comprise configuration segments that, when inflated, provide structural definition to the interior containment space.

Abstract: A freight insulating system for either temporarily retrofitting a conventional uninsulated freight container or insulating cargo transported on individual pallets is provided. When retrofitting a container, a plurality of individual insulation support members are selectively attached to the interior walls of the freight container and a multi-layer insulated bag is attached to and is suspended from the support members, covering and surrounding the freight cargo. When fashioned out of a cross-linked polyethylene foam, the support members provide heat insulation capability as well as spacing the insulating bag a distance from the interior container surface, creating an insulating layer of air while simultaneously providing the requisite minimum air space for the reflective foil layer (described below) to perform at its maximum thermal efficiency.

Abstract: A freight container insulating system for retrofitting, on a temporary or semi-permanent basis, a conventional uninsulated freight container is provided, and consists of a plurality of individual insulation support members selectively attachable to the interior walls of a freight container and from which one or more insulating blankets are attached to and suspend to cover and surround the freight cargo. When fashioned out of a cross-linked polyethylene foam, the support members themselves provide heat insulation capability along with spacing the insulating blanket a distance from the interior container surface, creating an insulating layer of air. Additional insulating enhancement is provided by utilizing as the insulating blanket, two layers of a closed-cell polyethylene material laminated together, with a layer of reflective foil attached to the blanket surface that faces the container wall.