Thermal Insulation

BARRIER ULTRA-R^tm HIGH-PERFORMANCE THERMAL INSULATION

Products and pricing: 
Barrier Ultra-r-^tm. At R-50 per inch, Barrier Ultra-r ^tm is our newest and highest performance vacuum insulation panel ever.  Using a true aerogel core material, BARRIER Ultra-R ^tm achieves extremely high thermal resistance with more modest vacuum levels than required by other VIPs.  As a result, Barrier Ultra-r ^tm retains its amazing performance year after year and carries an exclusive 25 year warranty.

Barrier^tm Refrigerator and freezer box kit. This page describes the process of using Barrier Ultra-r ^tm Superinsulation vacuum insulation panels to create complete iceboxes (or similar enclosures) and links to specific examples and photographs.

"Ready-To-Mount"^tm Hatches. The hatches utilize Barrier Ultra-r ^tm Superinsulation to provide high thermal performance in light, easy to install refrigerator and freezer doors. They are available in three sizes and are suitable for top or front-opening installation.

What is superinsulation?
Superinsulation is a general term given to insulation materials which dramatically out-perform common foams, blankets and other "trapped gas" insulation. Superinsulation relies on a total or partial vacuum supplemented by various "filler" materials. In such partial vacuums, the "filler" performs a variety of important functions including the interruption of the "mean free path" of heat transmitting molecules. For a more detailed discussion of vacuum insulation panels see VIP - General Information

How long has Glacier Bay been producing superinsulation?
Glacier Bay is the world's oldest commercial producer of  vacuum insulation panels (VIPs).  Our experience includes many different processes, types of fillers and membrane materials.  As one of seven members of  the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Aerogel Commercialization Project,  Glacier Bay worked with Boeing, General Motors, Aerojet General, Whirlpool Corp. along with Lawrence Livermore and Berkeley National Laboratories to demonstrate the commercial viability of aerogel-based superinsulations and were the first member to introduce a commercial superinsulation product.

Are Glacier Bay's claimed "R" values reliable?
At Glacier Bay we take pride in our outstanding reputation for technical accuracy and product integrity.  We are one of the only insulation manufacturers to maintain complete "in-house" testing capability for thermal conductivity, membrane permeability, seal strength, outgassing and myriad other issues that effect superinsulation life and performance.  Additionally, our testing equipment is ASTM calibrated (where applicable) and specifically adapted to provide testing conditions which closely imitate those found in the field.  We even keep a check on ourselves by submitting product samples to outside laboratories for independent testing.

• For general information on insulation testing see Insulation Testing.
• For information on Glacier Bay's in-house testing program see Glacier Bay's Insulation Testing Introduction.
• For test results comparing Barrier Ultra-r™ to other products see the Insulation Test Results Table
• To see how much more interior space and lower heat load you'll have with Barrier Ultra-r™ try our Java-based Box Building Assistant.
  
  For variety of information on the properties of heat and insulation try ourTechnical Library.

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