Monolithic thermocasting of polymer mixtures for architectural applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11623372-B2
Application number	US-201816757827-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2018
Priority date	Oct 25, 2017
Publication date	Apr 11, 2023
Grant date	Apr 11, 2023

Abstract

A monolithic thermocasting system for thermocasting polymer and solid material and method of use having an internal frame system; an external frame system disposed external to the internal frame system; a mold cavity formed between the internal frame system and the external frame system, the mold cavity sized to receive the polymer and solid material and shaped to form an architectural member; a duct; and a heater element disposed in the duct for outputting thermal energy to the mold cavity to heat the polymer and solid material, the thermal energy being sufficient to thermocast the polymer and solid material to a combined building material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A monolithic thermocasting system for thermocasting polymer and solid material, the monolithic thermocasting system comprising:
an internal frame system having an internal hollow duct;
an external frame system disposed external to the internal frame system;
a mold cavity formed between the internal frame system and the external frame system, the mold cavity sized to receive the polymer and solid material and shaped to form a hollow architectural member;
and
a heater element disposed in the internal hollow duct configured for outputting thermal energy to the mold cavity via at least the internal frame system to heat the polymer and solid material, the thermal energy being sufficient to thermocast the polymer and solid material to a combined building material.

2. The monolithic thermocasting system according to claim 1 , wherein the internal frame system comprises a metallic frame and surface system.

3. The monolithic thermocasting system according to claim 1 , wherein the internal frame system comprises a wood-based frame and surface system.

4. The monolithic thermocasting system according to claim 1 , wherein the external frame system comprises an insulation member.

5. The monolithic thermocasting system according to claim 1 , wherein the external frame system comprises a metallic frame and surface system.

6. The monolithic thermocasting system according to claim 1 , wherein the external frame system comprises a wood-based frame and surface system.

7. The monolithic thermocasting system according to claim 1 further comprising a blower in fluid communication with the internal hollow duct to distribute the thermal energy within at least one of the duct and the mold cavity.

8. A method of monolithic thermocasting of a combination polymer and solid material for architectural purposes, the method comprising:
obtaining a polymer;
obtaining a solid material;
combining the polymer and the solid material to form a combination mixture;
inserting the combination mixture within a mold cavity of a monolithic thermocasting system, the monolithic thermocasting system having an internal frame system having an internal hollow duct, an external frame system disposed external to the internal frame system, the mold cavity formed between the internal frame system and the external frame system; and
applying heat within the internal hollow duct of the internal frame system to heat the mold cavity to a temperature sufficient to transition the polymer to a liquid phase to produce a conglomerate of polymer and solid material.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the polymer is at least partially recycled polymer.

10. The method according to claim 8 wherein the polymer is chosen from the group consisting of Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene (PE).

11. The method according to claim 8 wherein the solid material is chosen from the group consisting of broken brick, concrete rubble, plate glass shards, gravel, and sand.

12. A thermocasting system for thermocasting polymer and solid material, the thermocasting system comprising:
a mold cavity sized to receive the polymer and solid material and shaped to form an architectural member, the mold cavity being formed between an internal frame system having an internal hollow duct and an external frame system disposed external to the internal frame system;
a heater element disposed within the internal hollow duct of the internal frame system configured for outputting thermal energy to the mold cavity to heat the polymer and solid material, the thermal energy being sufficient to thermocast the polymer and solid material to a combined building material; and
a manipulation device configured to rotate the mold cavity and heater element simultaneously with thermocasting the polymer and solid material.

Assignees

• Univ Michigan Regents

Inventors

• Moran Thomas
• Anton Simon
• Mulder Rachel
• Miller Meredith

Classifications

• B29K2023/10

  Polymers of propylene · CPC title

• B29C35/02 Primary

  Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing {during moulding, e.g. in a mould}(cold vulcanisation B29C35/18 {; vulcanising tyres, presses therefor B29D30/0601}) · CPC title

• B29C2035/0211

  resistance heating (B29C2035/0811 takes precedence) · CPC title

• C08J3/203

  Solid polymers with solid and/or liquid additives · CPC title

• B29K2105/26

  Scrap {or recycled material} · CPC title