Ceramic Additive = Insulation?

Hi All,

Yeah, I agree the slick sales sharks with the "never paint again" crap have given ceramics a bad name. However, taken only on its scientific premise, the insulation characteristic is something we shouldn't ignore.

Ceramic micro-particles do seem to impart more durability and scratch resistance to paints. I've studied this subject with fascination and here are some of my findings:

a) There are solid ceramic particles that help mostly with durability.

b) Hollow or evacuated ceramic micro-spheres help the most with creating a heat shield. The evacuated ceramic micro particles have a vacuum at their core, and since heat can't travel through a vacuum, it stands to reason these ceramics would give heat less of a path.

A further study of all these ceramics is something I intend to partake of. I invite all interested to contribute. There are benefits to our environment, and we would also be able to sell energy conservation to our clients. Furthermore, the homeowners that would go for this would also pay better.

I've read studies promoted by some of the folks selling these products and don't know how much of it is slick marketing. I would love to take an area and paint it with before/after temperature readings.

The government gives tax credits to businesses that meet certain ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) qualifications. A generous tax credit per square foot is a very good reason to invest in new technology. If ASHRAE allows for these money-saving qualifications....why not for the painting industry, if we could prove there are substantial energy savings from using ceramics?

Imagine this: Your clients would dearly welcome this type of paint job, while the government issues them tax credits AND they also save on energy ---> win/win/win !!!

On a closing note: I don't think present regulations apply to paint coatings as an ASHRAE qualifier. However, the paint industry is quite big and I could see a serious effort to ask for inclusion. Furthermore, the time is right for this technology - and if does what it claims - it couldn't be "greener."

Hi wannabe,

I've done work in this area for over a decade. The 'testing' aspect can be the difficult part. I'll try to help you with some direction for yours...

I've read studies promoted by some of the folks selling these products and don't know how much of it is slick marketing. I would love to take an area and paint it with before/after temperature readings.

Click to expand...

This approach will not really give you the answers you are looking for. First, what you really care about is the insulatory value. Taking before and after temperatures would be more likely to give you the IR reflective difference. In the past, I have taken those 'insulative coatings' and coated paint cans, pots, and beakers (you've got to make sure the paint is applied evenly and as thick as the manufacturer recommends). Paint at least 3 'beakers' and have at least 3 unpainted 'beakers' (all beakers must be identical). Fill a large container with ice water. Fill all 6 'beakers with boiling water (from the same pot... identical amounts). Have a temp guage in each beaker. Place all 6 beakers in the ice water and track the time and temperature to graph. Repeat the test with the exception of switching the ice water & hot water (it's harder to place the beakers in boiling water so you just have to settle for hot).

If the coating truly has insulative properties it will hold the temperature in the coated beaker longer than than it will hold in the uncoated beaker. You do 3 each to minimize the effects of stuff like imperfect forming of the beakers and imperfect coating of the beakers... Obviously this is not all-inclusive but is a starting point for you...

Have fun...

This is the thread that got my attention.

I have all the info and documentation about the product because
they want me to sell the product in my region.

Because they say it's Nasa technology involved people believe
the story. I myself have some distant.
Although the sample they gave me (a steel plate coated at one side with the product) feels different in temperature. More than I could imagine because of the slightly difference in surface structure.

I found some information about research of the product in paint,
and only found something official about the fast drying surface of the paint,
and therfor no fungus can get any grip on it.
I'n dutch it is called a 'hygrische diode'.

I just discovered this, elsewhere...
Insulation paint?

<<A building materials chain Placemaker in New Zealand thru the dist. Matrex Cold Patch is selling a nanotech coating that is water based that at 5 mil dry thickness has a 60 degree temperature block (paintable insulation)called Nansulate.I've used it in my house that was built in 1927.I'm about 3/4 done on interior and we've dropped our heating and cooling bill about 30% and that is with heating and cooling an extra 450 sq ft of upstairs rooms we normally don't heat or cool unless we have company.But I wanted to see how it preformed.I'm a painter by trade and I like to use a new product before my customers.They have being using Nansulate to spay the underside of roof deckings in the attic and getting a 40-50 temp drop.The company has also stated they are releasing a epoxy base product for marine and oil and gas etc reducing the CO2 emissions from a home by painting is a pretty simple solution plus the added reduced energy bill and even if someone doesn't believe in GW I would think lower energy cost would "Foster" a smile.Nansulate.com for researching product Nansulate from Industrial Nanotech.I'm from Kansas USA you and yours take care.>>

I grabbed the above post from TOD as it referred to insulating qualities of paint, which we had discussed here. I've made no verification of the presentation.