THERMAL BARRIER LINER FOR CONTAINERS

摘要

A thermal barrier liner is provided to maintain a beverage within a container at a desired temperature. The thermal barrier liner is preferably sprayed coated onto the internal surface of the container. The thermal barrier liner may be provided in various embodiments including a closed cell substrate, a base layer having gas or liquid filled microcapsules, a base layer having microencapsulated solid-liquid phase change material, or combinations thereof. In the closed cell substrate embodiments, when the thermal barrier liner is under pressure within the container such as prior to the container being opened, the thermal barrier liner maintains a minimum profile or thickness. However, when the container is opened and as pressure is released within the container, the barrier liner expands to achieve equilibrium. The expanded or thickened barrier liner provides an effective thermal barrier thereby maintaining the beverage at a desired temperature for a longer period of time. The thermal barrier liner may be formed from some liner materials currently used as protective liners, but supplemented with a foaming agent to create cellular structures. For the embodiments utilizing gas or liquid filled microcapsules, voids created by the microcapsules enhance the thermal barrier characteristics of the liner. For the embodiment utilizing encapsulated solid-liquid phase change material, the microcapsules change phase from a solid to liquid state absorbing heat as the container increases in temperature.