Insulation material comprising phase change material (PCM) for buildings

The invention relates to an insulation material for the thermal insulation of buildings, in particular of roofs and/or walls.

If there is a temperature gradient between the interior and outside of a building, heat can be transported from the warm side to the cold side by heat conduction, convection and radiation. Various materials are used to insulate buildings, with a view of reducing the heat transport through the walls and/or the roof of the building. This is intended to as far as possible prevent the transport of heat from the interior to the outside in winter and the introduction of heat from the outside inward in the summer.

Insulating materials which have a low thermal conductivity are used for thermal insulation, i..e. to impede the transport of heat, so as to minimize the transport of heat by heat conduction. Furthermore, the structure of the thermally insulating materials fills the free space between the inside of the building and the outside in such a way as to prevent the formation of air flows which transmit heat by convection. Thermally insulating foams and staple fibers, such as rock wool or glass wool, can be used for this purpose.

By using a thermal insulation material, heat transfer is reduced and a temperature gradient is maintained. In particular regarding temperature fluctuations, for example between day and night and/or summer and winter,

occasionally there is too much, occasionally there is too less thermal energy provided referred to a desired temperature . _r Therefore, in times of too high thermal energy, cooling is carried out, in times of too less thermal energy, heating is carried out. Heating and cooling itself makes an energy input necessary and is, thus, cost- intensive .

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a possibility for an insulation material for the thermal insulation of buildings which enables usage of the surplus of energy existing in times of too high thermal energy at least partly in times of too low thermal energy.

A further object of the invention is to provide an insulation material which is adaptable to given structures of a building. In addition, it is an object of the invention to create an insulation material which can be laid in a simple manner onto walls and/or roofs.

These objects are achieved by the insulation material for the thermal insulation of buildings, in particular roofs and/or walls, as claimed in claim 1. Advantageous refinements of the invention form the subject matter of the subclaims.

The invention provides an insulation material for the thermal insulation of buildings, in particular roofs and/or walls, having at least one carrier material and at least one heat storage material being connected to the carrier material with the heat storage material comprising at least one phase change material (PCM).

By means of the heat storage material comprising a phase change material (PCM), the invention makes it possible to

keep temperature fluctuations low even at the event of changing climate conditions, for example due to different seasons or due to day and night rhythm and, thus, to improve heat protection in summer as in winter times.

Using the heat storage material which comprises a phase change material (PCM), the invention allows for keeping temperature fluctuations at a low level even when climate conditions change, for example due to different seasons or due to day and night rhythm, and, hence, for improving thermal protection in summer as well as in winter.

Phase change materials, also known as latent heat storage materials, are materials which absorb or emit heat at a certain temperature without their own temperature changing. This property is known as "latent heat storage". The heat which is absorbed or emitted changes the state of the phase change material, usually from solid to liquid or vice versa, respectively. During storing heat in form of the so- called latent heat, after the phase change temperature, i.e. regularly the melting temperature, has been reached, there is no change in temperature as long as the storage material has fully changed its state, for example, until it is completely molten. At solidification, the heat stored a latent heat, the enthalpy of fusion, is emitted again.

Therefore, in times of too much thermal energy, the existing surplus of energy can be stored in form of the enthalpy of fusion in the heat storage material comprising a phase change material, and at least partly be released in times of too low thermal energy. In this manner, the heat storage material attenuates temperature fluctuations and is able to reduce the arising temperature gradient.

The insulation material according to the invention can be provided as an insulation element, in particular in the form of rolls and sheets. As a composite with the carrier material, the heat storage material is advantageously simple adaptable to existing structures of a building. A preferred embodiment of the invention is an insulation material in web form. In an advantageous refinement of the invention, the insulation material is flexible in form, so that it can be rolled up and can therefore be stored in particularly compact form and is easy to handle.

To allow the heat storage action of the insulation material to be adapted to different requirements, an advantageous refinement of the invention provides for the heat storage material to comprise a bulk material, in which the phase change material is dispersed. The phase change material is provided in the form of particles, for example in the form of beads. The heat storage action can be set by means of the quantity and type of phase change material selected.

To maintain the advantageous flexibility of the insulation material, so that it can be rolled up, transported and stored and can be adapted to different shapes of buildings, the invention provides for the bulk material to be applied as a coating to the carrier material. Acrylic has proven to be a particularly suitable material for a coating of this type. The bulk material can therefore be provided in the form of acrylic coating. An acrylic coating can be provided, for example, by coating with a polyacrylate dispersion.

To allow the thickness of the heat storage material to be selected variably within a wide range, it is advantageous for the phase change material to be provided in the form of particles that are as small as possible. In a preferred

embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the phase change material is in the form of beads with a mean diameter in the range of less than 30 μm, preferably in the range of greater than approximately 5 μm to less than approximately 20 μm. With this type of size, the particles of the phase change material can be incorporated in even relatively thin coatings without problems . By way of example, the phase change material may be in the form of encapsulated beads . The encapsulated beads may have an acrylic encapsulation.

In an encapsulation of this type, the phase change material can be protected from changes to its properties caused by contact with the bulk material or other constituents of the insulation material.

In a further configuration of the invention, it is provided that the heat storage material comprises at least one phase change material in powder form. The particles of the phase change material in powder form can be joined to one another, in particular by a powder adhesive. The invention therefore advantageously provides various ways of introducing a heat storage material into a flexible, roll- up web of an insulation material.

In the temperature range which is of interest for the insulation or temperature equalization of buildings, the invention provides for the phase change material to comprise at least one material from the paraffin class .

The phase change of paraffins from solid to liquid can be set relatively accurately to the desired temperature range depending on the chemical structure of the paraffin used in each instance and/or the combination of paraffins employed.

Moreover, paraffins advantageously have a high enthalpy of fusion and, therefore, a high capability of storing heat.

A suitable carrier material for the heat storage material may be provided, for example, in the form of a spunbonded nonwoven. In an advantageous refinement of the invention, the insulation material may have a reflection layer on its face facing away from the building in the installed state. In particular, this reflection layer can be applied to the heat storage material.

In order to further reduce the transfer of heat through walls or roofs of buildings, respectively, and at the same time allowing for the escape of penetrated moisture, in an advantageous refinement of the invention, it is provided that the insulation material comprises at least one first reflection material and an insulating material, the insulating material being arranged at a distance from the at least one first reflection material, thereby forming a space between the insulating material and the reflection material. As a result, heat which is transported through the insulating material by radiation is at least partially reflected at the interface between the space and the reflection material.

The functionality of the reflection material can be considerably enhanced by the separation of the surfaces of insulating material and reflection material. Heat transport, in particular of the part of the heat which originates from radiation and is absorbed and/or transmitted by the reflection material, as a result of heat being conducted through materials adjacent to the reflection layer, is reduced by the space provided in accordance with the invention. Furthermore, the space offers the possibility of mass transfer, so that moisture

which penetrates into the insulation material can escape. In a preferred configuration of the invention, the distance between the thermally insulating material and the reflection material is in the range from approximately 5 mm to approximately 20 mm.

In a further preferred configuration of the invention, the insulation material comprises a spacer which is arranged in the space in order to maintain a minimum distance between the first reflection material and the insulating material. Within the context of the invention, spacers are constructed in such a manner as to include the maximum possible amount of air and to minimize the contact surface area between insulating material and the surface which carries the reflecting material.

Depending on the requirements of the particular application, various materials can be used as spacers within the context of the invention. By way of example, the spacer may comprise a hosiery. The spacer may also comprise a profiled material. A profiled material of this type may, for example, be a foamed material with elevations. In the context of the invention, the insulation material may also comprise a spunbonded fabric which has been deformed so as to form projections as the spacer. Suitable materials for the spacer are in particular thermoformable nonwovens or wovens made of, for example, polypropylene (PP) and/or polyamides (PA) and/or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) .

Within the context of the invention, different materials with a low thermal conductivity can be used as insulating material depending on the particular application. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the insulating material comprises at least one microfiber nonwoven based on PE, PP and/or PET.

Particularly good thermal insulation can be achieved with a microfiber nonwoven which comprises fibers with a fiber thickness in the range from 0.1 μm to 7 μm. To further improve the insulation capacity of the insulating material, the insulating material may be mixed with hollow beads, in particular with hollow beads made from ceramic and/or glass. Hollow beads of this type are also known as "micro bubbles". A particularly preferred refinement of the invention provides for the use of a microfiber nonwoven provided with micro bubbles as the insulating material.

In a further configuration of the invention, the insulating material may comprise a foamed material which, by way of example, comprises polyurethanes (PUR) and/or polyethylene (PE) and/or PP and/or melamine resin. In particular, open- cell foams, if vapor permeability of the composite is desirable, or closed-cell foams, for vapor-tight composites, comprising at least one of the abovementioned materials, in particular melamine resin, are suitable as the insulating material in the context of the invention. In a preferred configuration of the invention, the insulating material is provided with a profiling which performs the function of the spacer. By way of example, an insulating material which has been profiled in this way can be provided by suitably shaped foams .

For particularly simple handling of the insulation material according to the invention, in particular even for the later equipment of buildings with the insulation material and to allow variable adaptability to different shapes, such as corners or projections of the building, it is provided in the context of the invention that the insulation material may be provided as a flexible web, in particular a web which can be rolled up. In a preferred

configuration of the invention, the insulation material comprises at least one carrier web, in particular a roof lining for roofs and/or walls of buildings .

Heat transition through the insulation material according to the invention can be reduced still further by the carrier having a first face, facing the inner side of the insulation material, and a second face, facing the outer side of the insulation material, the carrier web comprising the at least one first reflection material at least on its first face. In the installed state of the insulation material, the inner side of the insulation material or the first face of the carrier web, respectively, face toward the building. The outer side of the insulation material or the second face of the carrier web, respectively, face away from the building in the installed state of the insulation material .

To further reduce the heat transition through the insulation material, the carrier web may include at least at ist second surface at least one second reflection material, which at least partially reflects thermal radiation. As a result of a reflection material being applied to both sides of the carrier web, it is possible for thermal radiation to be reflected irrespective of the direction from which the thermal radiation impinges on the insulation material. This is advantageous in particular if the insulation material is used for buildings in areas in which the temperature gradient through the walls or roof of the building changes direction over the course of the year.

In an advantageous refinement of the invention, the insulation material comprises at least one further carrier web. By way of example, the insulation material comprises two carrier webs. By way of example, the insulation

material may be terminated on both sides by a roof lining, which on the one hand protects the thermally insulating material in particular from mechanical wear and on the other hand improves the handling properties of the insulation material.

In a further advantageous configuration of the invention, there is provision for at least one of the carrier webs to be substantially permeable to water vapor. By way of example, the insulation material according to the invention may comprise a roof lining which is open to diffusion with a metal vapor-deposited coating on one or both sides as the outer layer in the installed state. The insulation material is thereby advantageously designed to be open to vapor. Consequently, moisture which has penetrated into the insulation material can leave it again substantially unimpeded. Moisture which is present in parts of buildings which are in contact with the insulation material can pass through the insulation material. Therefore, the insulation material advantageously does not impede the drying of these parts of the building.

In particular, there is provision for the carrier web to include a reflection material which has an S _d value of less than or equal to approximately 1 m. In an advantageous configuration of the invention, the insulation material on its inner side has a reflection material with an S _d value of less than or equal to approximately 1 m and on its outer side has a reflection material with an S _d value of less than or equal to approximately 0.1 m.

The S _d value is what is known as the water vapor diffusion equivalent air space thickness and indicates - measured in m - how many times more resistant than air a material is to the through-migration of water vapor. In other words, a

material with an S _d value of, for example, 0.1 m has a water vapor barrier coefficient comparable to an air space with a thickness of 10 cm. The higher the S value, the more resistant to vapor a material is. The S _d value can be calculated by multiplying the μ number and the layer thickness s in m of a material: S _d = μ x s .

In a particularly simple configuration, the insulation material may comprise a metal layer as reflection material. This can, for example, be applied to the carrier web by vapor deposition. Suitable materials for the metal layer forming the reflection material are aluminum and/or copper. In particular on the side which faces away from the building in the installed state, it is preferable to use a copper layer on the insulation material, which can advantageously reduce the glare effect. Moreover, copper has a higher reflection action in the IR region which, furthermore, is less wavelength-dependent than in the case of aluminum.

To protect against oxidation, which can be caused by moisture, oxygen and/or heat, in a preferred refinement of the invention at least one of the reflection materials may be provided with an antioxidant. The antioxidant may, for example, be a coating applied to the reflection layer facing away from the building in the installed state.

A coating of transparent acrylic dispersion applied to the reflection layer which is oriented away from the building in the installed state can for example be used as the protective layer protecting against oxidation. In a preferred configuration of the invention, this acrylic dispersion coating is highly transparent and very thin, advantageously with a thickness of less than or equal to

approximately 10 micrometers. A loss of the reflection action can advantageously be substantially avoided with the aid of the coating.

In a further advantageous configuration of the invention, the insulation material has a barrier material on its inner side. This barrier material may, for example, include a vapor-decelerating web. The term "vapor-decelerating" in this context is to be understood as meaning a material which permits less water vapor to diffuse through it than the roof lining arranged adjacent to the barrier material. Vapor barriers are therefore webs through which water vapor as far as possible cannot diffuse; they have an S _d value of more than approximately 100 m.

The layer of the barrier material on the room side, in the installed state, in particular has a vapor barrier coefficient of 6:1 in accordance with DIN 4108-3 in relation to the material which adjoins the barrier material, i.e. for example the roof lining lying on the outer side. A design of this type, which is still fundamentally open to diffusion, allows atmospheric humidity which is present on the room side to diffuse outward and protects the structure from wood moisture damage and heat losses caused by moisture included in the insulation material.

To reflect the thermal radiation which originates from the interior in the installed state, the invention advantageously provides for the barrier material, on its face which faces the building in the installed state, to have a reflection material which at least partially reflects thermal radiation. This reflection material may, for example, be provided in the form of an aluminum coating. A coating with an antioxidant, such as for example

an additional coating layer, is not absolutely necessary in this case, since on the inner side direct wetting does generally not occur.

Depending on the intended use of the insulation material, the latter is provided in various dimensions which are in each case adapted to the installation situation. The invention in particular provides for the insulation material to have a width of up to approximately 3 m. This is particularly suitable for the application of the insulation material to walls. A width of approximately 1.5 m is preferred for applications in the region of the roof .

To avoid heat losses by convection, in a preferred configuration of the invention, in the edge region of the insulation material at least the materials which delimit the insulation material on the outer sides are joined to one another, so that they enclose the interior of the insulation material. By way of example, the edge region of the insulation material can be welded.

A strip of lower thickness than the majority of the insulation material may be provided in the edge region of the insulation material. If the insulation material is used in the form of a plurality of webs arranged next to one another, this side strip at the edge region can be used to overlap at the transition region from one web to the next. This advantageously allows the insulation material to be laid in the form of a substantially completely continuous surface. For rapid, water-tight laying, an adhesive may be provided in the edge region of the insulation material . In particular, a self-adhesive strip may be applied to the underside of the edge region in the region of the overlap.

In a preferred refinement of the invention, the two lateral edge regions of the insulation material may be complementary to one another, so that given the same orientation of the insulation material webs, the right-hand edge region of one web is complementary to the left-hand edge region of the web which adjoins it on the right-hand side. Alternate-sided welding of this nature advantageously substantially avoids increases in height in the region of overlap. Cross-joints, overlaps, penetrated sections and connections can, for example, be made airtight and watertight using an aluminum adhesive tape.

The incorporation of phase change materials in an insulation material which according to the invention is flexible, in particular can be rolled up, advantageously allows the reversible storage of heat in the heat storage material. This allows the effectiveness of the insulation material to be improved in terms of heat protection in summer and in winter. The vapor permeability and thermal conductivity of the insulation material are advantageously scarcely affected at all by the addition of phase change materials .

The insulation material according to the invention, with its structure open to diffusion, can advantageously be integrated in existing buildings and is therefore particularly suitable for the renovation of old buildings. Furthermore, the insulation material can be used as a supplement to conventional thermal insulation. Energy- losses caused by convection can likewise be substantially prevented by the insulation material according to the invention. The specific construction principle involving the reflection materials and insulating materials being spaced apart advantageously reduces the transfer of heat.

Moreover, the insulation material according to the invention can be laid easily, quickly and cleanly, in particular by virtue of the specific configuration of the edge regions .

In particular in its function as thermal protection for inhabited rooms in winter, the insulation material according to the invention offers the advantage of creating a particularly pleasant room climate, since the proportion of radiant heat in the room is increased by the reflection at the insulation material. It has been found that human beings require approximately 60% of the heat supplied to be in the form of radiant heat in order to feel comfortable. If the air in a room is heated exclusively by heat conduction and convection, the climate is not comfortable. The insulation material according to the invention significantly increases the proportion of reflected heat which is available as radiant heat, with the heat emitted by people in the room also being partially reflected.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the appended figures. Identical components are denoted by the same reference designations throughout all the figures. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 diagrammatically depicts a detailed drawing from the insulation material according to the invention in the form of a sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 diagrammatically depicts a detailed drawing from the insulation material according to the invention in the form of a sectional view of a further embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 3 diagrammatically depicts a detailed drawing from the insulation material according to the invention in the form of a sectional view of a further embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 4 shows a photograph illustrating a spacer in accordance with one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 5 shows a photograph illustrating a spacer in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, in a view from above,

Fig. 6 diagrammatically depicts the spacer shown in figure 4 as seen from below,

Fig. 7 shows a photograph illustrating the insulation material according to the invention in the form of a section through a further embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 8 diagrammatically depicts a detailed drawing from the insulation material according to the invention in the form of a section through a further embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 9 diagrammatically depicts a detailed drawing from the insulation material according to the invention in the form of a section through a further embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 10 diagrammatically depicts a detailed drawing from the insulation material according to the invention in the form of a section through a further embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 11 diagrammatically depicts a detailed drawing from the insulation material according to the invention in the form of a section through a further embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 12 diagrammatically depicts a detailed drawing from the insulation material according to the invention in the form of a section through a further embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 13 diagrammatically depicts a detailed drawing from the insulation material according to the invention in the form of a cross-section through a further embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 14 diagrammatically depicts a detailed drawing from the insulation material according to the invention in the form of a cross section through a further embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 15 diagrammatically depicts a detailed drawing from the insulation material according to the invention in the form of a section

through a further embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 16 diagrammatically depicts a detailed drawing from the insulation material according to the invention in the form of a section through a further embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 17 diagrammatically depicts a detailed drawing from the insulation material according to the invention in the form of a section through a further embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 18 diagrammatically depicts a detailed drawing from a roof structure using the insulation material of the invention in accordance with the exemplary embodiment shown in figure 12,

Fig. 19 diagrammatically depicts a detailed drawing from a roof structure using the insulation material of the invention in accordance with a further exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 diagrammatically depicts a detailed drawing in sectional view from the insulation material 1 in its basic form. The insulation material 1 may be an insulating element. In particular, the insulation material can be provided in the form of a panel as a web of material. The insulation material 1 comprises a carrier material 10 and a heat storage material 7.

The heat storage material 7 comprises a phase change material. Heat which penetrates into the insulation material 1 can be stored as a result of the enthalpy of fusion of the phase change material 7. If the temperature drops in the vicinity of the heat storage material 7, the- heat which has been stored in the form of latent heat of the phase change, i.e. the enthalpy of fusion, is available to at least partially compensate for the temperature difference which occurs. The heat storage material 7 therefore performs a buffer action for temperature fluctuations.

In figure 2, a further embodiment of the heat storage material 7 is shown as a composite with a carrier material 10. The heat storage material 7 comprises a bulk material 72, in which a phase change material is dispersed in the form of beads. It should be noted that the size ratios shown in the figures are not to scale. In particular, the beads are shown on a much larger scale than the other dimensions.

In order to also reduce the heat transmission coefficient through the insulation material 1, in figure 3 a further embodiment of the invention is depicted schematically, which comprises an insulation material 1 having a respective buffer for temperature fluctuations . To achieve this, the insulation material 1 comprises a heat storage material 7.

Figure 3 shows a particularly simple configuration of a corresponding insulation material 1, which comprises a thermally insulating material 3 and a first reflection layer 2, which is arranged at a distance from the thermally insulating material 3 so as to form a space 23. In the illustrated embodiment, a spacer 230 is arranged in the

space 23 in order to hold the thermally insulating material away from the reflection material 2. The insulation material 1 has an inner side 11, which in the installed state faces the building. The outer side 12 faces away from the building in the installed state. A heat storage material 7 is arranged in combination with the first reflection material 2 on the outer side 12 of the insulation material 1.

Various materials can be used as the spacer. Figure 4 shows, as an example, a photographic image of a PP/PA hosiery 231. These products are also referred to as polymer structure mats. They have, for example, a thread thickness in the range from approximately 0.05 mm to approximately 2 mm and a weight per unit area in the range from approximately 50 g/m ² to approximately 500 g/m ² . Moreover, they have an irregular thread distribution.

A further example of a spacer is shown in figures 5 and 6. A PET/PP domed nonwoven is illustrated in a view from above in figure 5 and in a view from below in figure 6. The domed nonwoven has a substantially planar surface 232, in which substantially hemispherical depressions (domes) are formed. In the view of the underside 233, the corresponding dome- shaped elevations can be recognized. In particular the elevations serve as spacers when the surface 232 of the domed nonwoven is placed onto an insulating material 3. The reflection layer 2 is then substantially in contact with the underside 233 of the domed nonwoven. The reflection layer 2 bears against the domed nonwoven substantially at punctiform contact locations.

As well as the separating hosieries and domed nonwovens illustrated in figures 4 to 6, it is also possible to use profiled foams to produce the separation between insulating

material and reflection layer. Figure 7 shows a photograph of a corresponding embodiment of the invention. A profiled, cured foam 320 is in contact with a web which is open to diffusion and has a reflection layer 2.

In the example shown, this foam has two regions. A first region is formed by a substantially planar sheet. In the second region, ribs are applied to this sheet. The ribs merge into the sheet. The reflection layer 2 bears against the tip of the ribs at substantially linear contact locations . The height of the ribs corresponds to the height of the space 23 between the sheet and the reflection layer 2. The profiled foam 320 has a dual function, namely firstly that of providing the insulating material 3 and secondly that of serving as a spacer 230. If a profiled foam 320 of this type is used, there is advantageously no need for a separate spacer 230.

Figure 8 diagrammatically depicts a further embodiment of the invention, which is suitable in particular for heat protection in winter. The insulation material 1 has a carrier. The carrier used is a roof lining 4. The roof lining 4 is open to vapor and is aluminized on both sides in order to provide the first reflection layer 2 and the second reflection layer 8.

In addition, the roof lining 4 comprises at its outer side 42 a second reflecting material 8 as well as a heat storage material 7. The heat storage material 7 comprises a bulk material 72, in which a phase change material is dispersed in the form of beads 75. At the heat storage material 7, a further reflecting layer 9 is provided.

The insulation material 1 also comprises an insulating material 3, which is arranged at a distance from the first

reflection layer 2, forming a space 23. A spacer 230 is located in the space 23 in order to ensure a minimum distance between the roof lining 4 having the first reflection layer 2 and the thermally insulating material 3.

The insulation material 1 also comprises a barrier material 5, which comprises a third reflection layer 9 on its face 51 which faces the building in the installed state. The barrier material 5 having the third reflection layer 9 is designed as a vapor-decelerating material aluminized on the room side. The spacer 230 is formed by a separating hosiery or other separating nonwoven.

Thermal radiation which reaches the insulation material 1 from the inner side 11 is partially, for example to an extent of 50%, reflected at the reflection layer 9. The remaining part, for example 50%, at least partially passes into the interior of the reflection material 1. On its way toward the outer side 12, this part passes through a plurality of interfaces between the different materials. In particular when it reaches the first reflection material 2, some of the heat transported in the interior of the insulation material 1 is reflected.

Equally, part of the heat which passes into the roof lining 4 from the reflection layer 2 is reflected when it reaches the second reflection layer 8. The heat which leaves the insulation material 1 starting from the reflection layer 8, in the example under consideration, is therefore much less than 25% of the thermal radiation which reaches the insulation material 1 from the interior room on the inner side 11.

The heat which is reflected into the interior of the insulation material 1 from the first reflection material 2

and also the heat which is reflected into the roof lining 4 at the second reflection layer 8 at least partially contribute to increasing the temperature of the roof lining 4 or the thermally insulating material 3 of the air-filled space 23 and the spacer 230. The profile of the temperature gradient from the inner side 11 to the outer side 12 of the insulation material 1 is thereby shifted in the direction of the outer side 12 by the arrangement of the reflection layer or layers according to the invention.

In addition, temperature fluctuations are attenuated by absorbing heat from or emitting heat to the heat storage material 7. By storing heat in the phase change material of the heat storage material 7, the heat stored as latent heat is not absorbed by one of the further materials and, hence, does not cause a rise in temperature due to absorption. Therefore, a lower temperature gradient is created at the insulation material 1 comprising the heat storage material 7, causing, in addition, a lower driving differential for a heat transfer via the insulation material compared to a material without heat storage material 7. Also by these means, the insulating capacity is significantly enhanced.

The heat storage material 7 can comprise an own carrier material 10, too, in such a way that it is provided as tempering material with a composite of heat storage material 7 and carrier material 10. Such composite of a heat storage material 7 and a carrier material 10 in combination with a composite of an insulating material 3 and a reflection material 2 is shown in figure 9.

In figure 10, a further embodiment of a composite is shown ^' with a tempering material 7, 10 and an insulation material comprising a heat storage material 7 and reflection

materials 2 being arranged at a distance to an insulating material 3.

The insulation material 1 according to this further embodiment of the invention comprises an insulating material 3, which is arranged at both sides at distances 23 from reflection materials 2, 9. The reflection materials 2,

9 are deposited as coatings at roof linings 4. The roof lining 4 facing the outer surface 12 of the insulation material 1 comprises reflection materials 2, 8 at both sides. A tempering material is positioned at this roof lining 4 provided with reflection materials 2, 8 at both sides. The tempering material comprises a carrier material

10 and a heat storage material 7.

The heat storage material 7 is deposited in form of a coating of a bulk material 72 onto the carrier material 10. In the bulk material 72, particles of a phase change material 75 are dispersed. The phase change material 75 is provided in form of beads. The roof lining 4 facing the inner side 11 is provided with a relfecting surface 9 at the side facing the room. Besides the spacer 230, also this roof lining 4 is arranged in the space 23 between the insulating material 3 and the reflection material 9.

A further reflection layer 9 has been applied to the heat storage material 7 toward the outer side 12 of the insulation material 1. Aluminum is a particularly suitable material for the reflection materials 2, 8, 9 of an insulation material 1 of this type. The reflection layer 9 on the outer side has been applied as a coating to the heat storage material 7. An acrylic coating which serves as bulk material 72 has been applied to the spunbonded nonwoven which serves as carrier material 10. Micro-encapsulated paraffin beads with an acrylic encapsulation are dispersed

in the acrylic coating 72. The insulating material 3 used is an insulating nonwoven. Separating scrims 230 have been introduced into the insulation material 1 adjacent to the insulating nonwoven 3.

In the further exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in figure 11, the heat storage material 7 is positioned at the roof lining 4 being arranged at the exterior side. At its side facing the room, the insulation material 1 comprises a barrier material 5 which carries a further reflection material 9 at its side facing the room in the installed state, that means at its surface 51 facing the inner side 11.

Besides the spacer 230, also this roof lining 4 is positioned in the space 23 between the thermally insulating material 3 and the reflection material 9. The reflection material 9 located on the room side is also arranged at a distance from the thermally insulating material 3, forming a space 23, in such a manner that heat conduction at the transition region from the thermally insulating material 3 to the reflection material 9 can be substantially completely eliminated.

In the exemplary embodiment which is diagrammatically depicted in figure 12, the insulation material 1 is of symmetrical construction with respect to a center plane through the insulating material 3 and connected to a ^• carrier web 10, onto which a heat storage material 7 is deposited as coating in form of a bulk material 72. In the bulk material 72, spherical particles of a phase change material are dispersed. At the heat storage material 7, a ^' reflecting coating 9 is arranged.

Spaces 23 adjoin the insulating material 3 on both sides. Spacers 230 are arranged in the spaces 23 in order to ensure a minimum distance between the insulating material 3 and the reflection layers. The insulation material 1 is terminated by a roof lining 4 on both its outer side 12 and its inner side 11. The roof linings 4 have a first reflection material 2 on their first surfaces 41 and a second reflection material 8 on their second surfaces 42.

In addition to the function of heat protection in winter, which has been shown on the basis of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in figure 8, the exemplary embodiment illustrated in figure 12 is also particularly suitable for heat protection in summer. For a heat flow acting on the insulation material 1 from the outer side 12, it is possible to demonstrate, analogously to the form of observation which has been explained in more detail above for the embodiment shown in figure 8, that the proportion of the thermal radiation arriving from the outer side 12 which is emitted to the building through the insulation material 1 via the inner side 11 can be well below 25%. This is possible on account of the fact that in particular the reflection at the first reflection layer 2 and second reflection layer 8, which are arranged at a distance from the thermally insulating material 3, can be increased compared to if these reflection layers are arranged in direct contact with the thermally insulating material 3.

Thereby, the heat storage material 7 with the phase change material 75 buffers the amount of heat that equals the enthalpy of fusion of the total mass of the phase changed material installed. Thus, temperature fluctuations are reduced.

Figure 13 illustrates a cross section through an insulation material 1 in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention. As seen from the inner side 11 toward the outer side 12 of the insulation material 1, the insulation material 1 comprises a reflection layer 9 which has been applied to a barrier material 5. The barrier material 5 is in contact with an insulating material 3, which is arranged at a distance from a first reflection layer 2 of a roof lining 4 so as to form a space 23. A spacer 230 ensures the distance between the reflection material 3 and the first reflection layer 2 in the main region of the insulation material 1. The roof lining 4 has a second reflection material 8 on the outer side 12 of the insulation material 1. At the second reflection material 8, a heat storage material 7 is arranged comprising a phase change material. At the heat storage material 7, a further reflection material 9 is positioned.

The insulation material 1 has an edge region 13. This edge region has a reduced thickness compared to the main region of the insulation material 1. In the edge region 13, the materials of the insulation material - namely the reflection layer 9, barrier material 5, insulating material 3, reflection layer 2, carrier web 4 reflection layer 8, heat storage material 7 and reflexion coating 9 - are joined to one another and are closed off with respect to the outside by welding together the reflection layers. The edge region 13 is provided with an adhesive 6 on the underside .

In the example shown in figure 13, an edge region 13 is shown on the right-hand side of the insulation material 1. The top side of this edge region 13 is formed in one plane with the outer side 12 of the insulation material 1. Correspondingly to the embodiment of the edge region 13

illustrated in figure 12, the insulation material may also have a complementary edge region on the left-hand side opposite from the edge region 13 illustrated.

A complementary edge region of this type is mirror-inverted with respect to the edge region 13 shown in figure 12 and comprises an adhesive 6 on its top side. Its underside is formed in one plane with the inner side 11 of the insulation material 1. The adhesive 6 may be omitted at one of the mutually complementary edge regions. Webs of the insulation material 1 with complementary edge regions 13 can be laid laterally adjacent to one another, with the mutually complementary edge regions 13 overlapping one another and being joined to one another by means of the adhesive 6. Arranging a plurality of webs of the insulation material 1 next to one another in this way advantageously makes it possible to realize substantially planar outer surfaces 12 and inner surfaces 11, since an increase in height in the region of the join between adjacent insulation materials is avoided by the correspondingly reduced thickness of the edge regions 13.

The advantage of the latent heat storage and an increased reflection at reflection materials arranged in the interior of an insulation material 1 as a result of distances 23 being maintained with respect to the adjacent layers can also be utilized in more extensive multilayer structures within the scope of the invention. By way of example, figure 14 illustrates an insulation material 1 in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention having at its outer side a heat storage material 7 provided at a carrier web 10 with the heat storage material 7 carrying a reflexion layer 9. Between the outer side 12 and the inner side 11, two layers of thermally insulating material 3 are provided. Each layer of thermally insulating

material 3 is arranged so as to form a space 23 with respect to the adjacent layer in each case. The spaces 23 comprise spacers 230.

The insulation material 1 is terminated toward the inner side 11 by the roof lining 4 and toward the outer side 12 by the heat storage material 7 having a reflective coating and comprising a phase change material 75. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the roof lining 4 on the inner side 11 of the insulation material 1 is provided on the room side with a reflection layer 2. The roof lining 4 on the outer side 12 of the insulation material 1 is provided with reflection layers 2, 8 on both sides.

Between the spacer 230 arranged toward the outer side 12 on the thermally insulating material 3 facing toward the inner side 11 and the spacer 230 arranged toward the inner side 11 on the thermally insulating material arranged toward the outer side 12, approximately in the center of the insulation material 1, is arranged a reflection layer 2, which is therefore surrounded by spacers 230. Thermal radiation which penetrates both from the outer side 12 of the insulation material 1 and from the inner side 11 of the insulation material 1 can be particularly efficiently reflected in particular at. this middle reflection layer 2.

Figure 15 shows a further embodiment of the insulation material 1, which is particularly suitable for use in the renovation of old buildings. In this embodiment, the inner side and outer side have the same S _d value; as a result, defects in the airtightness which may be present on the room side but have not been detected can be compensated for.

On its inner side 11, the insulation material 1 has a roof lining 4 which is open to diffusion and has an Sd value of less than 0.1 m. The roof lining 4 is provided with a reflection layer 2. A space 23 is maintained between the reflection layer 2 and a first thermally insulating material with the aid of a spacer 230. A separating scrim and/or separating grid and/or separating nonwoven can be used as the spacer.

The first thermally insulating material is a melamine resin foam 32 which is open to diffusion and is arranged at a distance from a reflection layer 2, so as to form a space 23, with the aid of a spacer 230. The reflection layer 2 has been applied to a roof lining 4 which is open to diffusion and is located substantially in the middle of the insulation material 1. This roof lining also comprises a second reflection layer 8, from which a second insulating material is arranged at a distance.

A PET nonwoven which is open to diffusion is used as the second insulating material. A further roof lining, which is open to diffusion and has an S _d value of less than 0.1 in, is arranged at a distance from the PET nonwoven 31. A reflection material 8 has been applied to this further roof lining. On the reflection material 8, a coating comprising a bulk material 72 is applied in which a phase change material 75 is dispersed. This carries a further reflection material 9 terminating the insulation material on the outer side 12 for use in the renovation of old buildings.

Figure 16 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the insulation material 1, which is particularly suitable for use in the roofs and walls of new buildings. The airtightness is defined and monitored - for example using what is known as a blower door measurement - on the room

side of new buildings, with the result that increased moisture levels caused by convection can as far as possible be ruled out. Unlike the insulation material for use in the renovation of old buildings as shown in figure 13, the insulation material 1 for use in new buildings has a vapor- decelerating material 5 with an S _d value of less than or equal to approximately 1 m, which is open to diffusion, toward the inner side 11.

The vapor-decelerating material 5 which is open to diffusion is provided with a reflection layer 2 on its face which faces toward the inner side 11. A melamine resin foam/PUR foam which is open to diffusion is used as insulating material facing toward the inner side 11. Toward the outside 12, a carrier web 10 is positioned. On the carrier web 10, a coating comprising a bulk material 72 is applied in which a phase change material 75 is dispersed. This carries a further reflection material 9 terminating the insulation material on the outer side 12.

Figure 17 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the insulation material 1, which is particularly inexpensive. Unlike the insulation material shown in figure 14, the particularly inexpensive insulation material 1 has a corrugated aluminum foil in the center as further reflection material 9. It is also possible to use a correspondingly profiled web of paper to which aluminum foil has been applied. By way of example, it is possible to use a grid-reinforced, corrugated composite of paper and aluminum.

Figure 18 shows an example of an installation situation of ^• the insulation material 1 according to the invention. Between rafters 100 there is an inner wall or roof insulation 120. By way of example, a mineral fiber material

with a thickness of from 100 to 150 mm can be used for the insulation 120. Toward the interior of the building there is a room-side cladding 130. The insulation material 1 has been applied to the side of the rafters 100 which faces away from the building. In the exemplary embodiment shown, there is an insulation material 1 which is terminated on its inner side 11 and on its outer side 12 by a roof lining 4 which is open to diffusion and has an S _d value of less than or equal to approximately 0.1 m, in the form of a covering that is highly open to diffusion. The roof lining 4 is provided with reflection layers 2, 8 on both sides.

Toward the outer side 12 a carrier web 10 is position. On the carrier web 10, a coating comprising a bulk material 72 is applied in which a phase change material 75 is dispersed. This carries a further reflection material 9 terminating the insulation material on the outer side 12.

The embodiment which is open to diffusion is of importance in particular, although not exclusively, in the renovation of old buildings in order not to impede dehumidification of the building by diffusion of water vapor to the outside. Water vapor can be transported through the insulation material 1 by diffusion both from the rafters 100 and from the room side through the room-side cladding 130 and the inner wall or roof insulation 120. This transport of water vapor is diagrammatically indicated by arrows 140 in figure 18. The major advantage of this use of the insulation material according to the invention is that there is no need to double up the rafters, and therefore time and costs can be saved. Old housing stock has roofs with a rafter height of in general from approximately 100 mm up to in general at most 120 mm. To satisfy the requirements of, for example, the thermal insulation regulations currently in force in Germany, this height

would have to be extended to at least 150 mm in order to allow the introduction of additional insulating wool. The operation of increasing the height of the rafters is known as doubling up.

Figure 19 shows a further example of an installation situation for the insulation material 1 according to the invention. Unlike in the embodiment illustrated in figure 16, there is no inner wall or roof insulation arranged between the rafters 100. In this example, the thermal insulation is achieved purely by the insulation materials 1, one of which is arranged on the outer side, with another arranged on the inner side, of the rafters 100. The space between the rafters, which is delimited by the two layers of the insulation materials 1, is in this case not ventilated. By combining a room-side layer of an insulation material 1 with an outer layer of an insulation material 1, it is possible to replace a conventional insulation .

In the renovation of old buildings, the insulation material 1 according to the invention, in addition to eliminating the need to double up the rafters and the provision of the free diffusion of water vapor to the outside air, providing a construction which is more favorable in terms of moisture, also offers the advantage that by using a reflective roof lining with thermal insulation, it is possible to dispense with the need for additional mineral wool 120 or additional other structural measures. Moreover, the insulation 1 according to the invention can be laid without ventilation, so as to be wind-proof. As a result, the inner wall or roof insulation 120 does not cool down and heat losses can be minimized further.

Furthermore, the insulation material 1 according to the invention can be laid quickly, easily and reliably. In addition to the renovation of old buildings, further applications of the invention include steep roofs, both in new buildings and in renovation situations, intermediate floors, faςades produced by post-and-beam construction and/or brickwork and also bottom floors. The term "post- and-beam construction", as distinct from brickwork, is to be understood as meaning wooden houses in which the supporting parts of roof and wall are made from wood.

It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments described above, but rather can be varied in numerous ways. In particular, the features of the individual exemplary embodiments can also be combined with one another.

List of designations

1 Insulation material

11 Inner side, face of the insulation material which faces the building in the installed state

12 Outer side, face of the insulation material which faces away from the building in the installed state

13 Edge region of the insulation material First reflection material

8 Second reflection material

9 Third, further reflection material Insulating material 1 PET nonwoven which is open to diffusion 2 Melamine resin foam which is open to diffusion 3 Melamine resin foam/PUR foam which is open to diffusion 3 Space 30 Spacer 31 PP/PA hosiery 32 PET/PP domed nonwoven as seen from above 33 PET/PP domed nonwoven as seen from below 20 Profiled, foamed material Carrier, carrier web, roof lining 1 First face - facing the building in the installed state - of the carrier web 2 Second face - facing away from the building in the installed state - of the carrier web Barrier material 1 Face of the barrier material which faces the building in the installed state Adhesive Heat storage material 2 Bulk material

Phase change material (PCM) Carrier material Rafters Inner wall or roof insulation Cladding on the inner room side Transport of water vapor