My Energy Conservation project

Re: My Energy Conservation project

The OP was looking for a solution for insulating a basement.

T

Re: My Energy Conservation project

icarus wrote: »

The OP was looking for a solution for insulating a basement.

T

I know. Hy-Tech does make a product for concrete. I think I saw that Thermal-Coat did as well.

http://www.hytechsales.com/prod1000.html

And while it may seem counter-intuitive that this stuff will insulate - to me it's not. Reflectivity of course, that's obvious - but vacuum filled glass beads mixed in with paint or some other coating must surely have some fairly noticeable conductive insulation properties.

Anyway, the stuff can be had in raw "powder-like" form and is inert, so it can be mixed with pretty much any paint or coating.

Thinking back on it, while I was too ignorant to ask the right questions at the time, I think that perhaps that homeowner I mentioned must have done something like that. I.e., mixed the raw stuff with a rubber roofing compound or some such.

Which might not be a bad way to go in a basement - get a good sealer - like this:

http://www.aquasealusa.com/

and mix in the raw ceramic before applying it.

Which is pretty much what I think that Hy-Tech "Insul Flex" product must be.

Re: My Energy Conservation project

"And while it may seem counter-intuitive that this stuff will insulate - to me it's not. Reflectivity of course, that's obvious - but vacuum filled glass beads mixed in with paint or some other coating must surely have some fairly noticeable conductive insulation properties."

dwh,
a thin coating would have so very little conductive r factors going for it that it would not be worth it as such a conductive insulator. yes those vacuum beads would be good if in sufficient thicknesses. insulative foam boards are on the same line of thinking except they contain small bubbles of air. heat still can conduct around the physical surface regardless if it's a vacuum or air.
to mix the vacuum beads into a rubber roofing compound will not allow for reflectivity and will add far too little insulation to be worth a darn as the heat will conduct through the rubber compound suspending the beads. better to just get an insulation board and rubber coat it than to mix it in the rubber compound.

if i'm off the mark here with the thread i apologize as i haven't followed it through from the beginning, but threw my 2 cents in even if devalued.;):p

Re: My Energy Conservation project

niel wrote: »

dwh,
a thin coating would have so very little conductive r factors going for it that it would not be worth it as such a conductive insulator.

I don't think that's what this document says:

http://www.icslinings.com/pdf/Skin%20Temperature%20Tests%20on%20TC%20Ceramic.pdf

After all, these products aren't sold just for roofs, they are also used on pipes and ducts and such. Here's a label from one such:

http://www.tri-chem.com/download/thermo-coat-label.pdf


"Recommended for:
Roofs
Walls
Coolers
Refrigerated Trailers
Steam Traps
Boiler Fire Doors
Air Conditioning Units
Freight Cars
Steam Lines"
(emphasis added)


EDIT: Here's a video showing temp diff on a hot pipe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XByG7KNfhNY&feature=related


Dade County, FL independent test:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNZiL5-uT8k&feature=channel

Re: My Energy Conservation project

The five seconds is the testing standard they used for burning skin.

"ASTM Test Standard C1055 defines the “safe” or “acceptable” heated surface
temperature (in industrial applications). This considers the effect on the skin that takes place within a five (5) second contact exposure interval."


The tables show what thickness of the material was required to reduce various temperatures to a level where it won't burn skin.

Re: My Energy Conservation project

Dabbler wrote: »

p.s. maybe someone can advise me on a better way to include images, as Ole has.

hey , it looked good to me, as long as the hosting site stays up