Getting past the 20% Efficiency Hurdle
Traditional insulation in front, CIC with 100% coverage on hot lines, (white coated line in back).
Dealing with the last 20% of efficiency has always been an expensive proposition. That's because all the easy steps have already been taken and it's now a matter of having to spend more money to get to the last portion.
Instead of spending more money or working harder to be creative in achieving more efficiency, why not just use a proven technology to bypass the hurdle and get the work done?
We're saying that as a producer of a insulation technology that's working in different industries (Marine, Food Processing and Industrial Markets) and has become accepted as a working technology by engineers in those markets.
Ceramic Insulation Coating (CIC) is just a latex-based coating with most heavy minerals (Titanium Dioxide & Calcium Carbonate - Limestone) replaced with hollow ceramic micro-beads. When applied in layers to a depth of 2mm/80 mils/0.080", according to food plant operators in California, this type of insulation coating saves 25% of natural gas used to generate saturated steam. This type of insulation blocks infrared-based heat transfer with the dense layers of hollow ceramic micro-beads and slows down conduction-based heat transfer with thin air gaps between layers along with air in the micro-beads. While the coating has a tested K value of 0.1176 W/mK, based measuring conductivity of 0.75mm dry film thickness (DFT) at 100C, using thin film technology. R value isn't an appropriate measurement because this insulation coating doesn't rely only on mass to slow heat transfer. This insulation coating also works like the thin oxide films used on Low-E glass doors and windows to block heat transfer. And conductivity-based resistance of the hollow ceramic micro-beads and the air gaps between layers. We can't say for certain what the total equivalent conductivity value is. But, some companies have measured resistance and believe it's around 0.024 W/mK.
Marine operators have used CIC for over 15 years to control condensation on cold surfaces at thicknesses around 1.5mm or 60 mils. Industrial users and food plants apply CIC on hot surfaces up to 425F for personnel protection, energy savings and protection from corrosion under insulation (CUI). We prefer to state the "working" temperature is around 177C/350F so there's some margin on temperature.
CUI protection is based on CIC's adhesion onto awkward surfaces, visual inspection, protection from rain. Application cost is typically lower than traditional materials, too.
So, instead of paying more for less protection to achieve efficiency, why not just get creative?