Heat naturally flows from warm areas to cooler areas, regardless
of direction. In winter, heat flows from the inside of a building to the
outside. This flow of heat can never be stopped completely, but the rate
at which it flows can be reduced by using materials which have a high resistance
to heat flow.
Heat is transferred in three distinct ways, any or all of which may
be occurring at any given time!
Conduction - Conduction is the transfer of heat through a solid object.
When one part of an object is heated, the molecules within it begin to
move faster and more vigorously, when these molecules hit other molecules
within the object they cause heat to be transferred through the entire
object.
Convection - Convection is the transfer of heat by the movement of a
fluid (water,air, etc.) Inside of a wall cavity, air removes heat from
a warm interior wall, then circulates to the colder exterior wall where
it loses the heat.
Radiation - Any object will radiate heat to cooler objects around it
by giving off "heat waves". This is a direct transfer of heat from one
object to another, without heating the air in between. This is the same
process in which the Earth receives heat from the Sun or a wood stove supplies
heat to its surroundings.
Obviously an important step in the creation of an energy efficient house
or building is to control heat loss, which accounts for 70% of the total
energy loss of a home. As was previously stated, heat will flow in any
direction where a temperature difference occurs. Therefore all areas which
separate the interior of a house or building from the outside or which
separate heated spaces from unheated (or air conditioned) spaces need to
have a high resistance to heat flow, in other words, they should be insulated!
How does insulation work?
Insulation is any material that slows the rate of heat flow from a warm
area to a cooler one. The more the rate is slowed, the better the insulative
qualities of the material. Its ability to resist heat flow is measured
as an R or RSI (metric) value, the higher the R - value, the more the material
will resist the flow of heat. In order to be effective, insulation materials
must be able to reduce the transfer of heat by conduction, convection and
radiation, this is determined by both its physical properties and installation.
Conduction - Since conduction is the transfer of heat through solid
objects, most insulations contain tiny "pockets" of air. These air pockets
reduce the conductive heat loss by minimizing the amount of "solid" material
within a wall or ceiling.
Convection - In large air spaces, such as a wall cavity, large amounts
of heat can be lost through convection (and radiation) As long as the insulation
is carefully installed to completely fill the cavity, there should be no
air spaces in which convective heat loss can occur.
Radiation - Most insulation has a cellular structure which blocks the
flow of heat by radiation. If the cavity is completely filled with insulation,
radiant heat loss through the walls or ceilings is reduced.
Choosing an insulation:
The R - value is not the only consideration when choosing insulation,
other factors which deserve consideration are the materials fire, mold,
insect, vermin and moisture resistant properties, as well as its cost and
ease of application.
A New Space Age Solution.. Hy-Tech Insulating Ceramic Paint Additives
Hy-Tech Ceramics reduce the insulative demands placed on conventional insulation
which may have been poorly installed or have deteriorated due to dampness
or age. The ability of products such as Hy-Tech ceramics to be easily and inexpensively
applied to walls and ceilings in the form of a paint additive which creates
a thermal barrier is a superior method for the homeowner to utilize in
order to maximize the energy efficiency of a home or building. Upgrading
the inner - wall or ceiling insulation in older or poorly insulated buildings
can be an expensive, sometimes impossible task and one which may be too
expensive to consider.
Where Can I Use It? Here are some areas we have used it,
Exterior walls,Interior walls & Ceilings,Roofs,Campers and Trailers,
Prefab Metal Bldgs, Utility bldgs,Truck & Van Roofs,Walk-in Coolers
