Abstract

Readily installable, highly efficient insulating structures for affixation to bodies requiring insulation comprise successive sheets of closely spaced heat resistive metal foil configured to maintain the intersheet spacing under the stress of gravity and other external forces. Each sheet of foil includes a plurality of corrugations which extend through part but not all of the gaps between adjacent sheets to minimize convection, and which in one embodiment abut corrugations of adjacent sheets to maintain the intersheet spacing. In one embodiment the corrugations are V-shaped in cross section and extend along the length of the sheet on one side thereof. In a different embodiment, each corrugation is comprised of a series of protrusions in the sheet which extend end-to-end along the length of the corrugation, the protrusions alternating in direction along the length of the corrugation to form a zig zag pattern and alternately extending outwardly on opposite sides of the sheet and into abutment with protrusions from adjacent sheets. The insulating structure is contained within a sealed envelope to minimize oxidation of the sheet as well as to prevent contamination of the insulator from outside sources.