Cutting edge materials: insulating paint

Recommendation points

• What is insulating paint
• What is the secret of this product
• How heat paint works
• What does this heat-insulating composition do?
• Rules for the use of nanotechnology

Is it possible to fully insulate the hard surface of the facade, pipes or roof with a coating layer of several millimeters? What are the advantages of using energy-saving paints? What additional properties do they have? You will learn about this from our article..

The use of insulation has a very impressive history – from its complete absence, compensated by meter-long walls, and ending with materials with an efficiency of 99.99%. The first heaters were of solid thickness and had dubious properties. Over time, the layers became thinner, and the materials became lighter and more accessible. It came to sheet polystyrene foam and insulating solutions, capable of stopping the frost at -15 ° C with two centimeters of a layer. However, scientists living under the slogan “thinner, more efficient, cheaper” did not stop there, and today we see the result of their work on the shelves – insulating paint.

What is insulating paint

The more accurate name of the product is a ceramic-based thermal insulation liquid coating. Paint (but more often “miracle paint”) it is called for simplicity, as well as for the identity of the methods of application – brush, roller, spray gun.

Heat insulating paint is a product of nanotechnology. It consists of two types of vacuum microscopic balls:

• silicone with a diameter of 0.02 mm;
• ceramic with a diameter of 0.01 mm.

The space between them in the basic version is filled with a latex mixture with acrylic components. A finer analysis of the composition is the business of narrow specialists and scientists.

What is the secret of this product

The standard approach to insulation is to stop the heat with an insulator barrier. Thus, conventional insulation works due to its low thermal conductivity. The layer closest to the surface heats up, and the heat does not go further. The developers of the composition took into account that heat is infrared radiation and decided to work with it. One of the properties of infrared rays is their inability to pass through a vacuum..

Of course, it is a utopian idea to put the surface of the water pipe or the facade wall to be insulated in a vacuum. A truly extravagant idea was to place a vacuum around a pipe or in a heat path. This became possible thanks to nanotechnology. It was they who made it possible to manufacture microscopic vacuum balls that do not transmit infrared rays and heat. Having achieved a sufficiently small size (0.02-0.01 mm), the developers selected the optimal binder (modified latex, acrylic and others) and the product was first seen as a secret composition in the service of the Air Force of different countries, and then in the international economy..

How heat paint works

The combined composition of ceramic paint works in two directions. The ceramic component accumulates and traps the emission of heat, while the silicone component reflects infrared radiation. Moreover, it returns the retained heat to the carrier (if these are pipes) or to the surface (walls, ceiling, floor).

Finally, the presence of a capillary pump effect in some paints seems absolutely phenomenal for a substance with such properties. This means that with all the advantages described above, the material is able to sanitize the surface, removing excess moisture (steam), while returning heat back to the surface. Water molecules still pass through the binder between microscopic balls.

It should be noted that the capillary effect is not observed in all products and manufacturers. Often times, ceramic paint works just like a thermos, which in many cases is satisfactory..

What does this heat-insulating composition do?

Answering this question, it would be appropriate to summarize and list the technological properties that were mentioned in passing in the description:

1. The actual thermal insulation. A 1 mm layer of heat paint (any manufacturer) is equivalent to a 50 mm layer of mineral wool (density 30-32).
2. Always dry surface without ice. The heat passed through the layer (3-5%, included in the calculations), evaporates moisture from the surface when wet, and also prevents icing.
3. Hydrophobic composition. The paint passes water only at the molecular level due to the capillary effect. An insulated surface becomes inaccessible to atmospheric waters.

The list of advantages is huge, we will list the main ones:

1. Convenience and speed of application. Any thermal insulation work is carried out in the shortest possible time.
2. High qualifications, special tools, consumables are not required. The whole process of warming is reduced to painting.
3. Can be used in difficult places without losing quality. Plumbing jungle of heating units, cracks, historical facades with stucco molding are elementary insulated with a brush.
4. Restoration of the effectiveness of the worn out thermal barrier. Facades insulated with sheet materials, after 10 years, lose 10% of their properties every year. The effect of “ice walls” appears, followed by dampness and fungus. The heat paint will retain heat, which will evaporate moisture from the wall material through the paint “capillary pump”. Thus, a major overhaul of the facade is not required, only painting work.
5. Non-flammable, does not vaporize, does not rot, does not explode, non-toxic, easy to repair.
6. Adhesion to all materials from cardboard to concrete, including plastic and body metal. This composition was originally used to process Stealth aircraft and ship hulls..
7. Prevents condensation and corrosion on pipes.
8. It’s still paint. Can be tinted in any color.

Like any material in the world, this product is not perfect and has its drawbacks. However, there are few of them and they are conditional:

1. With all its advantages, it is better to use a heat paint for facade work as an additional, auxiliary heat insulator.
2. Variations in the composition of different manufacturers can differ significantly not only from the standard, but also from the declared indicators.
3. Like any paint, it is demanding on the application surface (must be dry and degreased).

Estimated price of basic formulations *:

* – basic composition – the main product of the manufacturer, on the basis of which special-purpose compositions are created

It should be noted that special-purpose compounds – facade, anti-corrosion, winter, chemical-resistant, ship-borne, internal, fire-resistant and others – differ in price from the base ones by no more than 10-15%.

Rules for the use of nanotechnology

As we can see from the analytical table, heat paint is not a cheap material. And whatever one may say, for a serious volume of work you will have to pay a round sum, even taking into account the savings.

Due to their unique manufacturability, ceramic compositions are easy to manufacture – the whole process is reduced to mechanical mixing of finished components at room temperature. The components themselves – microscopic balls filled with a technical vacuum – are difficult to counterfeit, since these are nanotechnological products. But to save on a binder is quite and easily. In this case, you will have to forget, first of all, about sanitation (capillary pump) and just get a “thermos”. Alas, the manufacturer does not always declare this. In addition, the market is full of counterfeit products..

When analyzing the offer of liquid ceramic insulation and choosing the right price for yourself, remember that the manufacturer of such material must have the following set of documents:

1. GOST R and TU certificate of conformity for heat-reflecting paints.
2. Rostekhnadzor Certificate.
3. Fire safety certificate.
4. Sanitary and hygienic certificate.
5. Food certificate.

Also, a positive factor when choosing a manufacturer will be the availability of documents confirming product testing in state (!) Research institutes. In this case, patents and state certificates are much more significant than medals and prizes of any industrial exhibitions..