A contractor who is intalling new windows in my condo suggested that I have a clear insulation applied to the exposed granite block wall in my below-grade dining room.
I found such a product called Nansulate HomeProtect ClearCoat. The promotional information makes it sound like the best thing since sliced bread.
Has anyone heard of and/or used this product or anything similar?
Thanks,
Richard
Add a strap for easy carrying and pouring when working with 5-gal. buckets.
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Replies
Sounds like snake oil to me.
Kinda-sorta" Q: Is Nansulate one of the ceramic coatings?A: No. Nansulate does not use the same technology that ceramic paints and coatings use.Many of the ceramic coating products obtain their insulating benefit from reflectivity off the white or light colored surface, making them more effective outdoors than inside, where there is no sun to reflect off of the coating, and by the use of small glass beads, or ceramic microspheres, which trap air. Nansulate's unique Hydro-NM-Oxide material creates a network of nano-sized, twisting tunnels, which the heat energy has to navigate. This greatly slows down the transfer of heat, which in turn gives Nansulate its insulating abilities. You can learn more about how Nansulate works on our Thermal Data page. "
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They claim energy improvements of 34 to 40-something percent, it looks like. No R-values, in violation of federal FTC law (and generally done only by materials that are poor insulators).
That 34 to 40 something percent sounds great!
Until you do a load calculation and realize that 50 percent reduction is an R-2. So they are under that.
So this is about the same as putting a pane of glass an inch off your wall.. more or less.
I wouldn't use it.
-=Northeast Radiant Technology=-
Radiant Design, Consultation, Parts Supply
http://www.NRTradiant.com
Post their link so we can pick it apart accurately
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http://www.nansulate.com/http://www.nansulate.com/thermal_insulation_data.htm
Thanks. I am taking a look see.
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I haven't yet found confirmation on the site, but I believe it is one of the products using nanotechnology to trap voids in tiny ceramic spheres contained in the coating to buffer the surface temperature,and possibly provide some emissivity and radiant barrier. They generally do provide some benefit in preventing extremes of surface temperature and condensation problems, but when the claim and goal is as an insulation, they fail miserably.
The cost/benefit is what you want to consider for yourself - what is you main gaol?
If you are trying to reduce condensation and the stains that come from that on this surface, it amy be worth using, but if the goal is to reduce heat loss, ther eare probably more cost effective ways of doing so.
I see this item from the FAQ page
" Q. Does Nansulate Have an R-Value?
The R-Value is formulated using an inch of thickness as a measure. Due to the fact that Nansulate is made to go on in a thin layer - less than an inch thick - an accurate R-Value cannot be calculated for it. Nansulate works by acting as a barrier to heat transfer. It does not only insulate by trapping air, as other insulations do. Nansulate’s effectiveness can be seen in this energy savings demonstration, which shows how it can effectively insulate and slow down heat transfer.
Other R-Value information: Many people don’t realize that the R-Value does not measure blocking of radiant heat transfer, which is one of the most prevalent in a home or building.
The ASTM C518, which is one of the tests that measures the R-Value, was first created in 1963 – over 40 years ago. The R-Value measurement system hasn’t yet been updated to include accurate measurement for thin thermal insulators. "
Those claims are patently false. ANY material can be measured for R-value which is Resistance to heat loss. This is commonly expressed in terms of r-value on a per-inch basis but can be done in corresponding ways.
Instead, they choose to set up their own test criteria that fails to be comparable, then criticize the typical test standard. It is true that current testing standards need improvements and can favor some insulations over others inaccurately, but this company does not even begin to even start with standard principles. They test in a manner that favors heat energy radiated back into a source rather than measuring heat energy lost. Those who sell radiant barriers do the same, but it is fraudulent to call a piece of aluminum foil insulation because it does not insulate. It reflects radiant energy.
That does have a benefit is some applications, but I prefer companies that can describe their products honestly.
I'm off to study what they claim more thoroughly.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-emissivityhttp://www.enn.com/green_building/commentary/32849
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Nanulate will not work on your stone wall, it is not thick enough when it is clear. The ticker version (which the testimonials are for) is a thick paint that will hide your stone. Heat loss is done by radiating, a clear coat does not stop radiating
Nansulate Materials
I have no qualms about labeling these people as absolute frauds. Well, maybe .001% of a qualm- only a fool declares himself absolutely certain of anything. First, Google map their address- among all the businesses at that address, there's no mention of Nansulate.
Second, they claim their product encapsulates air, just like... wait for it... almost every other kind of insulation. When air is encapsulated the movement of the gas molecules is inhibited, which inhibits the movement of the energy contained in their motion. The physics of this process are VERY well understood and nothing I've seen indicates Nansulate is much different in performance than any of the insulating foams on the market. Even if it were 5 time as effective, the fact it's used in such thin (paint thickness) layers means that it will have almost NO value as a insulation.
There are some insulations, "aerogels," that do a MUCH better job of encapsulation and it could be possible that Nansulate's Magic Material, "Hydro-NM-oxide" is such a material. However, you can Google til the cows come home and you'll find no mention of Hydro-NM-oxide that doesn't tie directly back to Nansulate. Maybe it does exist, but it's strange no one but Nansulate knows about it. And Nansulate ain't tellin'- they never describe the material. And trust me, for $65/gallon, you're not getting aerogel-in-a-can- at best you're getting an insulator that functions like all the other air-encapsulating materials. Despite their many claims, Nansulate never mentions aerogels.
They also say that "The formula for the R-value generally uses an inch in its calculation, which means that attempting to use it for any material less than an inch will give an inaccurate result. " That's complete bullshit- R-value is calculated "per inch". For example, most Styrofoam products have an R-value of 5.0 per inch. 2 inches = R10. Half an inch = R2.5. It's that simple. Nansulate recommends several 2 mil layers, dry thickness, say 10 mils total, one hundredth of an inch. Assuming it's 5 times as good as Styrofoam, that would give an R-value of 0.25 for 5 layers of Nansulate. For comparison, http://www.buyaerogel.com/ sells an aerogel material they claim is 2.5 times as effective as Styrofoam. They're asking $30 for a piece 12"x12"x5mm.
At one place on their site they say "Nansulate® will help to block the conductive, convective and radiant heat transfer." At another place, they say, " Nansulate® does not insulate by means of reflectivity or absorption. It insulates by means of low thermal conductivity." Those two statements contradict each other.
At another place, they say, " One significant part of their testing was to test both daytime and nighttime hour energy savings. Nansulate® was shown to reduce heat transfer over both." Just like... wait for it... every other insulator. Insulation doesn't know what time it is- it just responds to temperature differences. The more you read their site, the more you understand that they don't understand the basic physics of heat transfer
As I say, absolute frauds. Or at least 99.999% frauds. And, BTW, if you're listening, Nansulate, I'd be glad to evaluate your materials. I won't spend $65 for a gallon of what I consider to be hogwash, but if you have a quart can for $20, I'll play your silly game.
Booooogus!
Ask the maker for an R-value if you're considering using this product. If they can't produce one based on actual test data (I'm guessing they can't), run away!
Nansulate is a scam
From Wikipedia: "How can these paint manufacturers get away with such wild exaggerations?" Although the problem is due in part to the FTC’s lax enforcement of existing regulations, other factors play a role. According to an article in the September 2009 issue of EDU, “Such claims, as a rule, receive relatively little attention from energy experts. That’s partly because they are numerous enough that any attempt to debunk them individually would quickly develop into an open-ended game of Whack-a-Mole, and partly because the product claims are so outlandish that it’s difficult to imagine anyone taking them seriously.”