Refrigerator rear panel

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator rear panel (A) comprising aluminum foil (2), cardboard and a polymeric material, having a composite structure and holding the structure together depending on its high rigidity and combustion resistance.

Description

[0001] REFRIGERATOR REAR PANEL

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates to a refrigerator rear panel comprising aluminum foil, cardboard and a polymeric material, having a composite structure that is holding the structure together depending on its high rigidity and combustion resistance.

[0004] State of the Art

[0005] The refrigerator rear panel, which is used in the technical field, is a supporting part located at the back of the refrigerator and used to hold the structure together. After all plastic and electronic components are placed in the metal frame structure of the refrigerator, the polyurethane insulation material that prevents heat transfer between the internal and external environment is placed at the back before being tightened. The rear panel prevents the polyurethane insulation material squeezed into the refrigerator by pressure from leaking out and ensures that the refrigerator structure remains as a whole.

[0006] Three different rear panels are used in the refrigerator rear panel, which are sheet material, aluminum laminated polymeric panel and composite material comprising aluminum-cardboard- polymer-corrosion inhibiting coating materials. The sheet material is thick, heavy and creates a high carbon footprint during transportation due to its high fire resistance and rigidity. Polymeric plates, on the other hand, have low fire resistance despite their high rigidity and processability.

[0007] Since refrigerators are electronic domestic appliances, they are expected to have high fire classes and to create a low carbon footprint during their shipment to different countries.

[0008] As a result, due to the aforementioned disadvantages and the insufficiency of the current solutions regarding the subject matter, a development is required to be made in the relevant technical field.

[0009] Brief Description of the Invention

[0010] The present invention relates to a refrigerator rear panel structure that meets the aforementioned requirements, eliminates all disadvantages and brings some additional advantages. The object of the present invention is to solve said disadvantages by being inspired from the current conditions.

[0011] The main object of the present invention is to develop a refrigerator rear panel structure based on a new production method that is different from the structures used in the state of the art. Unlike other studies, two layers of cardboard and aluminum foil are used to increase the rigidity and fire resistance of the composite panel structure comprising aluminum, cardboard, polymer and anticorrosion coating materials which is the subject of the invention. With the rigidity of the cardboard and the fire resistance effect of aluminum, it has been observed that it increases the fire class and rigidity values in the refrigerator rear panel structures where it is used. Thanks to the invention, a rear panel structure displaying high rigidity and non-flammability resistance comparable to sheet material and low density (low weight) comparable to polymeric plate can be produced.

[0012] The main advantages of the invention are that it provides a refrigerator rear panel structure with high rigidity and fire class by using two cardboard and aluminum layers.

[0013] The following figures and their detailed descriptions will make the invention’s structural and characteristic features and its advantages easier to understand. Therefore, the evaluation should be made taking the images and their detailed descriptions into consideration.

[0014] Figures Clarifying the Invention

[0015] The present invention should be evaluated with the figures explained below, to gain a better understanding of its structure and the advantages.

[0016] Figure 1 shows the general view of the refrigerator rear panel.

[0017] Figure 2 shows the view of the layers of the refrigerator rear panel.

[0018] Part References

[0019] A Refrigerator rear panel

[0020] B Outer metal sheet

[0021] C Condenser

[0022] 1 Protective coating

[0023] 2 Aluminum foil 3 Polymeric material

[0024] 4 Cardboard structure

[0025] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0026] In this detailed description, preferred embodiments of the invention are described solely for a better understanding of the subject matter.

[0027] The invention relates to a refrigerator rear panel (A) having a composite structure and holding the structure together depending on its high rigidity and combustion resistance. Said refrigerator rear panel (A) comprises at least one polymer (second polymer) at least laminated with at least one first cardboard and at least one second cardboard. Said laminated two cardboards’ both sides are laminated at the same time with at least one first aluminum and at least one second aluminum, first polymer and third polymer. The first aluminum has a first anti-corrosion coating on its surface. The second aluminum has a second anti-corrosion coating on its surface.

[0028] The components and usage rates in the structure of the refrigerator rear panel (A) subject to the invention are given in the table below:

[0029] In the production method of the refrigerator rear panel (A) of the invention, two separate cardboards (first cardboard and second cardboard) are laminated in the extruder with a polymer (second polymer). At this stage, when the first cardboard and the second cardboard are being laminated, the extruder jaw temperature is preferably between 280 - 320 O, the machine speed is preferably between 40 - 100 meters / minute, and the machine tension is preferably between 3 - 5 bars. In addition, attention should be paid to the direction of lamination, depending on whether the first cardboard and the second cardboard are chromic cardboard. The chromic side of the first cardboard and the gray side of the second cardboard should be laminated. The humidity values of the first cardboard and the second cardboard should preferably not be greater than 3%. Cardboard weight should preferably be between 160 - 450 grams / m2.

[0030] The byproduct obtained by the lamination is simultaneously laminated with the first aluminum and the second aluminum, the first polymer and the third polymer on both sides. Furthermore, the first anti-corrosion coating is applied to the face of the first aluminum. In these steps, the extruder jaw temperature is preferably between 280 - 320 O, the machine speed is preferably between 40 - 100 meters / minute, and the machine tension is preferably between 3 - 5 bars. The first anticorrosion coating 1 is preferably applied with 60 - 120 tram rollers and the coating unit temperature is preferably between 60 - 100 O.

[0031] In the byproduct obtained in the previous process step, an anti-corrosion second coating is applied to the second aluminum surface. In this stage, the anti-corrosion second coating is preferably applied in the gravure printing press with 60 - 120 tram rollers and the coating unit temperature is preferably between 60 - 100 O.

[0032] The product obtained in the previous process step is sized transversely to the refrigerator rear panel (A). For this purpose, the product is slitted in the slitting machine behind the refrigerator, preferably with a speed of 50 - 200 meters / minute.

[0033] In the invention, it should be noted that the polymer used in the extruder process is polyethylene containing a functional group such as polyethylene, polypropylene or methacrylic acid. The melt flow rate of the polymer is preferably 7-8 g / 10 minutes.

[0034] In the invention, each layer of polymer coating weight should preferably be between 10 - 30 grams / m2.

[0035] The first aluminum and second aluminum thicknesses used in the invention are preferably between 6 - 80 microns. The aluminum alloy values are preferably 8079 or 1235 and the condition is HO. The type of anti-corrosion coating is vinyl, polyester, acrylic or nitrocellulose based. The coating weight is preferably between 0.3-2.0 g / m2.

[0036] In different embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to use different types of cardboard such as test liner, kraft liner, imitation kraft instead of chromic cardboard. In alternative applications, the polymer coating weight and polymer type can be changed and used.

[0037] In different applications of the invention, the order of the process steps which make up the method can be changed. In the preferred embodiment, the cardboard-cardboard is laminated first. However, the first aluminum and the first cardboard can be laminated first, followed by the second cardboard and then the second aluminum being laminated.

[0038] The refrigerator rear panel (A), which is the product produced within the scope of the invention, is tested for non-flammability in a special test cabinet within the scope of IEC 60-335-2-24 standard. For the non-flammability test, the refrigerator rear panel (A), which is combined with polyurethane foam measuring 15 cm x 15 cm x 15 cm, is prepared. The anti-corrosion coating used in the production of the invention also has the property of adhesion to polyurethane. A direct flame is applied on said prepared sample. In order for the test to be completed successfully, the open flame must not reach the polyurethane. The 6-80-micron aluminum foil (2) used in the production of the invention prevents the flame coming out of the flame source from reaching the polyurethane. In this way, the structure is given non-combustible properties.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A production method for refrigerator rear panel (A), characterized by comprising following process steps:• laminating at least one first cardboard and at least one second cardboard with at least one polymer (second polymer),• laminating at least one first aluminum and at least one second aluminum with the first polymer and the third polymer on both sides of the byproduct obtained by lamination at the same time,• applying first anti-corrosion coating to the surface of the first aluminum,• applying second anti-corrosion coating on the second aluminum face in byproduct obtained in the previous process step,• dimensioning the obtained product in accordance with the refrigerator rear panel (A) transversely.

2. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the weight of the cardboard is between 160 - 450 grams / m2.

3. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the polymer used in the extruder process is polyethylene containing a functional group such as polyethylene, polypropylene or methacrylic acid.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the melt flow rate of the polymer is 7-8 g / 10 minutes.

5. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the polymer coating weight is between 10 - 30 grams / m2for each layer.

6. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the first aluminum and the second aluminum thicknesses are 6 - 80 microns.

7. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the anti-corrosion coating is vinyl, polyester, acrylic or nitrocellulose based.

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