New Cabot additive can insulate bare metal

Dubbed Enova aerogel, and unveiled at the European Coatings Show in Nuremberg, Germany, the material is aimed at formulators and paint manufacturers. James Pidhurney, global segment manager with Cabot, says it can be used on any metallic substrate to provide a layer of insulation, and that applications range from industrial or temperature controlled environments and cool rooms through to metal roofs and some domestic situations. "It enables a new class of coatings to be produced that delivers the performance of traditional insulation and the flexibility of a coating in a single product," he says. Enova aerogel is manufactured from aerogel, which Cabot claims is the world's best insulating solid material, supplied in particle form. Each particle consists of more than 90% air trapped within a network of amorphous silica, making it twice as insulating as still air. The exceptionally low thermal conductivity of 12mW/mK makes Enova aerogel far superior to traditional insulations, such as polyurethane foam (typically 30mW/mK) and additives such as glass or ceramic microspheres. When used in water-borne formulations, the resulting coating can achieve a thermal conductivity of 30—50mW/mK, which is seven to 10 times more insulating than standard paint. Cabot researchers have also found that applying a 1mm coating containing Enova aerogel to a 200°C metal surface meets US and European testing protocols for safe touch temperature, preventing the first-degree burns normally expected within five seconds of skin contact. This not only protects employees but helps keep contents at the desired temperature – and the same applies to insulating cold surfaces, helping to eliminate freezer burns and to reduce power needed to keep contents cold.