Overview
MEVAC® Glass Fiber VIP is a finished vacuum insulation panel with a fine glass fiber mat core hermetically sealed inside a multilayer metallic/EVOH barrier laminate film and evacuated to high vacuum. The glass fiber core achieves effective thermal conductivity of <0.0020 W/(m·K) at 24°C — the lowest value in the MEVAC® range, and roughly half that of fumed silica core panels. This exceptional insulating performance makes glass fiber VIPs the preferred choice wherever space and weight are the most critical design constraints and service temperatures remain within the −60°C to +80°C window.
The glass fiber structure achieves its ultra-low conductivity through the combination of an extremely low solid conduction path through fine, low-density fibers and the near-complete suppression of gaseous conduction under vacuum. Panel density is 270 ± 10% kg/m³. Thickness range begins at 3 mm — the thinnest available in the MEVAC® lineup — enabling use in appliance door panels, thin-wall refrigerated packaging, and other space-critical enclosures. Maximum panel size is 1400 × 800 mm.
MEVAC® Glass Fiber VIP panels must be ordered to exact dimensions and must not be cut on site. The glass fiber core is more mechanically fragile than fumed silica core and requires careful handling to prevent core compression or deformation before vacuum sealing is complete. Once sealed and evacuated, the panel is robust in service, but the fiber mat is permanently damaged by field cutting, which also destroys the vacuum. Specifiers should account for at least 5 mm trim allowance on each edge relative to the nominal installation cavity to avoid contact stresses at the panel perimeter.
Technical Specifications
| Property | Unit | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Core material | — | Fine glass fiber mat |
| Effective thermal conductivity (λ) at 24°C | W/(m·K) | <0.0020 |
| Service temperature range | °C | −60 to +80 |
| Panel density | kg/m³ | 270 ± 10% |
| Maximum panel size | mm | 1400 × 800 |
| Thickness range | mm | 3–50 |
| Barrier film | — | Multilayer metallic/EVOH laminate |
| Core structure | — | Fine glass fiber mat |
| Humidity cycling resistance | — | Good |
| Field cutting | — | Not permitted — vacuum seal integrity |
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Applications
Household Refrigerators and Freezers
Glass fiber VIPs are the dominant VIP type in domestic refrigerator and freezer manufacturing. Appliance OEMs integrate VIP panels into door liners and cabinet sidewalls to reduce the insulation wall thickness by 60–70% compared to PUR foam, enabling larger internal volume within the same external footprint, or the same internal volume in a smaller external footprint. The lower working temperature limit of −60°C accommodates deep-freeze chest freezer applications.
Refrigerated Transport — Trucks and Containers
Insulated truck bodies, refrigerated containers (reefers), and railway refrigerated wagons use glass fiber VIPs to reduce tare weight and wall thickness while meeting ATP (Agreement on the International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs) insulation requirements. Weight reduction translates directly to increased payload capacity.
Cold Chain Boxes and Shippers
Passive and active cold chain packaging — including insulated shippers for pharmaceutical temperature-sensitive products, temperature-controlled meal delivery boxes, and reusable vaccine carriers — use glass fiber VIPs in thin-wall box construction. The minimum 3 mm panel thickness allows thin-walled box designs that maximize internal volume for a given external footprint.
High-Performance Building Envelope (Selected Applications)
Where the ultra-low λ of glass fiber VIP is required to hit aggressive U-value targets in a very thin assembly, glass fiber panels can be used in building envelope applications within their +80°C upper limit. External facade assemblies in warm climates (surface temperature <80°C) are within scope.
Packaging & Storage
MEVAC® Glass Fiber VIP panels require particularly careful handling due to the fragility of the glass fiber core before it is constrained by vacuum pressure, and the sensitivity of the sealed panel to puncture.
Export packaging: each panel individually wrapped in polyethylene film with rigid cardboard corner guards, palletized with cardboard interlayer sheets, and stretch-wrapped. Pallet heights are kept conservative to limit stack pressure on lower panels.
Storage requirements:
- Store flat in dedicated racks; avoid edge-loading or corner impacts
- Do not place any sharp or concentrated loads on panel faces or edges
- Store in dry conditions; humidity does not damage sealed panels but moisture compromises packaging integrity over long periods
- Do not expose to temperatures above +90°C (e.g., in summer storage containers in hot climates) — the sealed panel service limit is +80°C
- Verify vacuum integrity with surface thermal mapping before installation
- Sealed panel shelf life: typically 10+ years in proper storage
MOQ and lead time: discussed at enquiry. Contact East Materials with required panel dimensions, quantity, and delivery date.
Related Products
- VIP Panels — parent hub: full MEVAC® range overview and comparison table
- MEVAC® Fumed Silica VIP — wider temp range (−86°C to +90°C), more robust core, <0.0045 W/(m·K)
- MEVAC® PUF VIP — glass fiber core with PU foam jacket for contoured/non-flat geometries
- MEVAC® Fumed Silica Core M200 — raw fumed silica core board for panel manufacturers
- Aerogel Insulation — complementary blanket/board insulation for complex geometries
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