The report examines domestic refrigerator/freezer (R/F) design alternatives which may offer greater increase in thermal performance than is possible with panel/foam composites. (NOTE: Current efforts to design and build R/Fs with high performance insulation technology are directed at using vacuum panels in a composite with polymer foam to improve performance; however, certain restrictions generally enable only relatively small improvement in thermal resistance using these techniques.) These design alternatives involve basic redesign of the R/F and use of alternative materials of construction. One design alternative includes use of a polymer outer shell material component that incorporates in its construction an advanced insulation technology that reduces thermal bridging and edge losses. Computer modelling of a R/F door incorporating the concept shows a doubling of effective thermal resistance over conventional R/F designs. The report also addresses materials and manufacturing technologies needed to fabricate polymer-barrier advanced insulation components for R/Fs.

"January 1993." Microfiche.