Panasonic Corporation

Keisuke Tsunetsugu

Hiroto Nakama

Yasuaki Tanimoto

Chie Hirai

Yoshihide Hirai

Yukako Akeyama

A vacuum heat insulator according to the present invention includes a core molded to be plate-shaped with the use of a binding agent. The vacuum heat insulator assumes any one of the following configurations. A) The core is formed by curing a fiber aggregate by means of a binding agent. The fibers have an average fiber diameter of at least 0.1 &#x3bc;m but at most 10 &#x3bc;m, and voids defined by fibers have a void diameter of at most 40 &#x3bc;m. The core has a percentage of the voids of at least 80%. B) The binding agent is varied in concentration in a through-thickness direction of the core. C) A cured layer solidified by the binding agent is formed on at least one side surface of the core. D) The core contains fibers having a length of at most 100 &#x3bc;m. The fibers are oriented perpendicular to a direction of heat transmission. Such vacuum heat insulator is excellent in adiabatic property. Refrigerators, to which such a vacuum heat insulator is applied, are made small in size, or have a large inner volume, or contribute to energy saving.

Vacuum heat insulator, method of manufacturing the same, and refrigerator using the same

In a vacuum heat insulator, a heat seal layer of its enveloping member of a laminated structure is made of a film having a melting point of at least 200&#xb0; C. Alternatively, the heat seal layer is made of a film having a melting point above 100&#xb0; C. and below 200&#xb0; C., and fins are bent on a low-temperature side. Either of these structures can inhibit a decrease in gas barrier property even in a high-temperature atmosphere of approx. 150&#xb0; C. Thus, the heat-insulating property of the vacuum heat insulator is maintained for a long period of time. This vacuum heat insulator is preferable for an apparatus that has a heat source or a portion to be kept warm exceeding a temperature of 100&#xb0; C.

Growing community of inventors

Mino, Japan

Keisuke Tsunetsugu