Polymer trim breaker having gas-blocking flakes and an epoxy coating
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.
1. A refrigerator comprising:
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, wherein:
the trim breaker includes a plurality of gas-blocking flakes that are disposed throughout the trim breaker, wherein each gas-blocking flake includes a longitudinal axis that extends substantially parallel with an elongated surface of the respective gas-blocking flake; and
wherein 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.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of gas-blocking flakes are made of at least one of mica particles and glass particles.
3. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the trim breaker includes a substantially homogenous mixture formed from a base material and the plurality of gas-blocking flakes.
4. The refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein the substantially homogenous mixture includes an amount of gas-blocking flakes that is in a range of from approximately 10 percent to 40 percent by volume of the substantially homogenous mixture.
5. The refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein the base material includes a polymer material.
6. The refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein the base material includes at least one of a polymer network and a silica-based material.
7. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of gas-blocking flakes include a range of sizes measured along the longitudinal axis, wherein the range of sizes is from approximately 5 microns to approximately 800 microns.
8. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the trim breaker partially defines an interior cavity of the insulated structural cabinet that is maintained at an at least partial vacuum.
9. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein an aspect ratio of length to thickness for each respective gas-blocking flake is in a range of from approximately 100 to approximately 5,000.
10. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the trim breaker includes an epoxy coating that is disposed on the outer surface of the trim breaker.