Abstract: A vacuum insulated refrigerator includes a cabinet defining at least one compartment. The cabinet includes a wrapper, a liner assembly, and a trim breaker assembly coupled to the wrapper and the liner assembly. The trim breaker assembly defines a wrapper groove to receive an edge of the wrapper and at least one liner groove to receive at least one edge of the liner assembly. A wrapper light-diffusing optical fiber is disposed in the wrapper groove. The wrapper light-diffusing optical fiber is configured to diffuse light within the wrapper groove. At least one liner light-diffusing optical fiber is disposed in the at least one liner groove. The at least one liner light-diffusing optical fiber is configured to diffuse light within the at least one liner groove. A light reactive adhesive is disposed in the wrapper groove and in the at least one liner groove.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated appliance includes a cabinet defining at least one compartment. The cabinet includes a wrapper and a liner assembly. The wrapper and the liner assembly define an insulation cavity therebetween. The insulation cavity is under an at least partial vacuum. A trim breaker assembly is coupled to the wrapper and the liner assembly. The trim breaker assembly defines a wrapper groove to receive an edge of the wrapper and at least one liner groove to receive at least one edge of the liner assembly. An adhesive is disposed in the wrapper groove and the at least one liner groove, with the adhesive sealing the insulation cavity. The adhesive includes a platy additive to reduce gas permeation therethrough to maintain the at least partial vacuum in the insulation cavity.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated refrigerator includes a cabinet defining at least one compartment. The cabinet includes a wrapper, a liner assembly, and a trim breaker assembly coupled to the wrapper and the liner assembly. The trim breaker assembly defines a wrapper groove to receive an edge of the wrapper and at least one liner groove to receive at least one edge of the liner assembly. A wrapper light-diffusing optical fiber is disposed in the wrapper groove. The wrapper light-diffusing optical fiber is configured to diffuse light within the wrapper groove. At least one liner light-diffusing optical fiber is disposed in the at least one liner groove. The at least one liner light-diffusing optical fiber is configured to diffuse light within the at least one liner groove. A light reactive adhesive is disposed in the wrapper groove and in the at least one liner groove.

Abstract: A system for forming insulation packages includes a vessel configured to hold a slurry that includes a liquid and an insulation material. A supply conduit is coupled at a first end with the vessel and has a second end configured to couple with an envelope for selectively supplying the slurry from the vessel to an interior cavity of the envelope. A chamber is configured to selectively maintain a pressure within the chamber at a reduced pressure less than ambient pressure. The second end of the supply conduit is disposed within the chamber. A mold includes an inner mold liner that at least partially defines a cavity for retaining the envelope therein and an outer mold shell that at least partially surrounds the inner mold liner. The inner mold liner and the outer mold shell are gas-permeable and permeable to the liquid.

Abstract: An insulating structure for an appliance includes a trim breaker, a wrapper, and a liner. The wrapper and liner coupled to the trim breaker and at least partially defining a structural cabinet. A barrier is positioned between the liner and the wrapper. The barrier is also coupled to the trim breaker. An inner compressible gasket is proximate the liner, and an outer gasket is proximate the wrapper. The inner gasket and the outer compressible gasket are coupled to the barrier.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated apparatus including (a) an insulative structure with a sealed interior volume having a pressure of less than atmospheric pressure and (b) core insulation material disposed within the sealed interior volume, the core insulation material exhibiting a dark color and comprising (i) first particles and (ii) second particles or molecules coated onto or bonded to the first particles. The core insulation material exhibits CIELAB color space coordinates having an L* value within a range of from 0 to 40. The first particles can be fumed silica. The second particles or molecules can be dye particles or molecules. The first particles and the second particles or molecules can have opposite charges. The vacuum insulated structure can be a component of a refrigeration appliance, a dewar for liquid nitrogen, among other things.

Abstract: A method and system for forming an insulation package for use in a vacuum insulated structure is provided. A slurry containing a liquid and an insulation material is formed. The slurry can be supplied to an envelope under vacuum, wherein the envelope is gas-permeable and permeable to the liquid. At least a portion of the liquid is drawn through the envelope and at least a portion of the insulation material is retained within the envelope to form an insulation package. One or more insulation packages can be disposed within an insulating cavity and the insulating cavity can be evacuated to decrease a pressure therein to form a vacuum insulated structure.

Abstract: An insulating structure for an appliance includes a trim breaker, a wrapper, and a liner. The wrapper and liner coupled to the trim breaker and at least partially defining a structural cabinet. A barrier is positioned between the liner and the wrapper. The barrier is also coupled to the trim breaker. An inner compressible gasket is proximate the liner, and an outer gasket is proximate the wrapper. The inner gasket and the outer compressible gasket are coupled to the barrier.

Abstract: A method of forming an insulation material for a vacuum insulated structure includes heating glass flakes to at least a glass transition temperature of the glass flakes to induce a phase separation of the glass into an acid insoluble silica phase and an acid soluble phase. The glass flakes can be derived from a glass composition containing (by weight): SiO2 from about 40% to about 80%, B2O3 from about 10% to about 40%, Na2O from about 1% to about 10%, Li2O from about 0% to about 3%, CaO from about 0% to about 10%, ZnO from about 0% to about 5%, P2O5 from about 0% to about 10%, and Al2O3 from about 0% to about 10%. The method also includes a step of etching the glass flakes to dissolve the acid soluble phase to form porous glass flakes.

Abstract: An insulating structure for an appliance includes a trim breaker, a wrapper, and a liner. The wrapper and liner coupled to the trim breaker and at least partially defining a structural cabinet. A barrier is positioned between the liner and the wrapper. The barrier is also coupled to the trim breaker. An inner compressible gasket is proximate the liner, and an outer gasket is proximate the wrapper. The inner gasket and the outer compressible gasket are coupled to the barrier.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated structure for use in an appliance includes an inner liner and an outer wrapper coupled to the inner liner. A vacuum insulated cavity is defined therebetween. An insulation material is disposed in the vacuum insulated cavity. The insulation material includes porous glass flakes.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated structure and method of forming are provided. The vacuum insulated structure includes an inner liner and an outer wrapper coupled to the inner liner and defining an insulating cavity. A plurality of insulation packages are disposed within the insulating cavity. Each insulation package includes a first filler material contained within an envelope. A second filler material is disposed within the insulating cavity.

Abstract: An insulating structure for an appliance includes a trim breaker, a wrapper, and a liner. The wrapper and liner coupled to the trim breaker and at least partially defining a structural cabinet. A barrier is positioned between the liner and the wrapper. The barrier is also coupled to the trim breaker. An inner compressible gasket is proximate the liner, and an outer gasket is proximate the wrapper. The inner gasket and the outer compressible gasket are coupled to the barrier.

Abstract: A method for preparing a vacuum insulated panel includes forming an internal cavity between a liner and a wrapper and preparing a filler material to be disposed in the internal cavity. The filler material includes a first part and a second part and is prepared by treating a surface of the first part. A coating is applied to the surface of the first part with a chemical having a first charge. The coating forms a first surface charge on the surface of the first part. The method further includes mixing the first part with the second part forming the filler material. The second part includes a material having a second surface charge opposite the first surface charge.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an inner liner, an outer wrapper and a trim breaker that extends between the inner liner and the outer wrapper to define an insulated structural cabinet. The trim breaker includes a plurality of gas-blocking flakes, wherein each gas-blocking flake includes a longitudinal axis that extends substantially parallel with an elongated surface of the respective gas-blocking flake. The longitudinal axis and the elongated surface of each corresponding gas-blocking flake is oriented to be substantially parallel with a portion of an outer surface of the trim breaker located near the respective gas-blocking flake.

Abstract: An insulating structure for an appliance includes a trim breaker, a wrapper, and a liner. The wrapper and liner coupled to the trim breaker and at least partially defining a structural cabinet. A barrier is positioned between the liner and the wrapper. The barrier is also coupled to the trim breaker. An inner compressible gasket is proximate the liner, and an outer gasket is proximate the wrapper. The inner gasket and the outer compressible gasket are coupled to the barrier.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an inner liner, an outer wrapper and a trim breaker that extends between the inner liner and the outer wrapper to define an insulated structural cabinet. The trim breaker includes a plurality of gas-blocking flakes, wherein each gas-blocking flake includes a longitudinal axis that extends substantially parallel with an elongated surface of the respective gas-blocking flake. The longitudinal axis and the elongated surface of each corresponding gas-blocking flake is oriented to be substantially parallel with a portion of an outer surface of the trim breaker located near the respective gas-blocking flake.

Abstract: A method and system for forming an insulation package for use in a vacuum insulated structure is provided. A slurry containing a liquid and an insulation material is formed. The slurry can be supplied to an envelope under vacuum, wherein the envelope is gas-permeable and permeable to the liquid. At least a portion of the liquid is drawn through the envelope and at least a portion of the insulation material is retained within the envelope to form an insulation package. One or more insulation packages can be disposed within an insulating cavity and the insulating cavity can be evacuated to decrease a pressure therein to form a vacuum insulated structure.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated structure and method of forming are provided. The vacuum insulated structure includes an inner liner and an outer wrapper coupled to the inner liner and defining an insulating cavity. A plurality of insulation packages are disposed within the insulating cavity. Each insulation package includes a first filler material contained within an envelope. A second filler material is disposed within the insulating cavity.

Abstract: An insulating structure for an appliance includes a trim breaker, a wrapper, and a liner. The wrapper and liner coupled to the trim breaker and at least partially defining a structural cabinet. A barrier is positioned between the liner and the wrapper. The barrier is also coupled to the trim breaker. An inner compressible gasket is proximate the liner, and an outer gasket is proximate the wrapper. The inner gasket and the outer compressible gasket are coupled to the barrier.