A method for forming a super-insulating material for a vacuum insulated structure for an appliance includes disposing hollow glass spheres within a rotating drum, wherein a plurality of interstitial spaces are defined between the hollow glass spheres. An anchor material is disposed within the rotating drum. The hollow glass spheres and the anchor material are rotated within the rotating drum, wherein the anchor material is mixed with the hollow glass spheres to partially occupy the interstitial spaces. A silica-based material is disposed within the rotating drum. The silica-based material is mixed with the anchor material and the hollow glass spheres to define a super-insulating material, wherein the silica-based material attaches to the anchor material and is entrapped within the interstitial spaces. The silica-based material and the anchor material occupy substantially all of an interstitial volume defined by the interstitial spaces.

A method for forming a super-insulating material for a vacuum insulated structure for an appliance includes disposing hollow glass spheres within a rotating drum, wherein a plurality of interstitial spaces are defined between the hollow glass spheres. An anchor material is disposed within the rotating drum. The hollow glass spheres and the anchor material are rotated within the rotating drum, wherein the anchor material is mixed with the hollow glass spheres to partially occupy the interstitial spaces. A silica-based material is disposed within the rotating drum. The silica-based material is mixed with the anchor material and the hollow glass spheres to define a super-insulating material, wherein the silica-based material attaches to the anchor material and is entrapped within the interstitial spaces. The silica-based material and the anchor material occupy substantially all of an interstitial volume defined by the interstitial spaces.

An insulating core material for a refrigerating appliance includes a plurality of insulating glass spheres, wherein a plurality of interstitial spaces are defined between at least a portion of the insulating glass spheres of the plurality of glass spheres. A coating material is applied at least to the outer surface of the insulating glass spheres, wherein the coating material modifies the outer surface to define a retaining outer surface of each insulating glass sphere of the plurality of glass spheres. A secondary insulating material is combined with the plurality of insulating glass spheres, wherein the secondary insulating material is at least partially retained by the retaining outer surfaces of the insulating glass spheres to occupy the plurality of interstitial spaces.

An insulating core material for a refrigerating appliance includes a plurality of insulating glass spheres, wherein a plurality of interstitial spaces are defined between at least a portion of the insulating glass spheres of the plurality of glass spheres. A coating material is applied at least to the outer surface of the insulating glass spheres, wherein the coating material modifies the outer surface to define a retaining outer surface of each insulating glass sphere of the plurality of glass spheres. A secondary insulating material is combined with the plurality of insulating glass spheres, wherein the secondary insulating material is at least partially retained by the retaining outer surfaces of the insulating glass spheres to occupy the plurality of interstitial spaces.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing a first particle in a reactor; the first particle being a magnetic particle or a particle that can be influenced by a magnetic field, an electric field or a combination of an electrical field and a magnetic field; fluidizing the first particle in the reactor; applying a uniform magnetic field, a uniform electrical field or a combination of a uniform magnetic field and a uniform electrical field to the reactor; elevating the temperature of the reactor; and fusing the first particles to form a monolithic solid.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing a first particle in a reactor; the first particle being a magnetic particle or a particle that can be influenced by a magnetic field, an electric field or a combination of an electrical field and a magnetic field; fluidizing the first particle in the reactor; applying a uniform magnetic field, a uniform electrical field or a combination of a uniform magnetic field and a uniform electrical field to the reactor; elevating the temperature of the reactor; and fusing the first particles to form a monolithic solid.

Additively manufactured ceramic filters are disclosed. A plurality of pores, each having a uniform geometry, are arranged between an inlet surface and an outlet surface of a single unit of ceramic such that the plurality of pores change in size uniformly from the inlet surface to the outlet surface. The pores are respectively interconnected, and the size, shape, orientation, and/or interconnection of the pores are chosen to provide hydrodynamic features that provide effective filtration for a given liquid and contamination. The pores are additively manufactured with optimized precision.

A method for producing a form-stable phase-change material to nucleate sugar alcohols includes directionally freezing a slurry of solid chitosan and solvent and additives, providing a frozen slurry including unidirectional pillars of frozen solvent that force suspended solid particles into interstices, exposing the frozen slurry to conditions causing sublimation of the solvent of the frozen slurry to remove frozen solvent and provide a body having pillars of vacancies therein, sintering the body to provide a scaffold including the pillars of vacancies therein, graphitizing the scaffold by heating in argon, treating the scaffold with aqueous base, and adding a molten sugar alcohol phase-change material to the scaffold such that the molten phase-change material is drawn into the pillars of vacancies by capillary action to provide the form-stable phase-change material having reduced hysteresis of the melting point of the sugar alcohol phase-change material.

A process and an apparatus for refining molten glass. The apparatus includes a porous body having an inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of pores through which molten glass can flow between the inlet and the outlet. The plurality of pores are defined by walls having wall surfaces that are configured to interact with the molten glass as the molten glass flows between the inlet and the outlet to help refine the molten glass.

A process and an apparatus for refining molten glass. The apparatus includes a porous body having an inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of pores through which molten glass can flow between the inlet and the outlet. The plurality of pores are defined by walls having wall surfaces that are configured to interact with the molten glass as the molten glass flows between the inlet and the outlet to help refine the molten glass.