NASA TECH BRIEFS
February 1997, Vol. 21 No.2

Mission Accomplished

In the mid-1950s, when Clark E. Beck, PE, of Wright -Patterson Air Force Base discovered and pioneered the development of radiant barrier technology for NASA and the space program, he couldn't have envisioned the variety of applications for which the insulation material would someday be used. But today, radiant barrier technology has been spun-off into products as diverse as energy-saving home insulation, candy wrappings, footwear inserts, and protective clothing.

The radiation barrier has been in use by NASA since the Gemini and Apollo missions. The insulation was the prime element of the environmental control system that allowed Apollo astronauts to work inside the Command Module in short sleeves, rather than in bulky space suits. The material maintained constant, comfortable temperatures inside the spacecraft, while temperatures outside fluctuated from -273 degrees Celsius to +238 degrees Celsius. Made of aluminized polymer film, the material provided a reflective surface that kept more than 95 percent of the radiant energy from reaching the interior of the spacecraft.

In addition, the radiant barrier was used to reduce the required thickness of the astronauts' space suits. If it had not been for this technology, the U.S. space suits would have been seven foot thick. Since the Gemini and Apollo missions, the radiant barrier has been used on virtually all spacecraft, including unmanned missions where instruments require thermal protection. It is used in the current fleet of space shuttles to protect the onboard computers.

The material, called Energy "Q"™, is made of 99 percent pure aluminum with a fire-resistant polypropylene insert. Small holes allow moisture to escape, while keeping longer heat waves from getting through. Weighing only slightly more than 17 pounds per thousand square feet, the material reflects 97 percent of the heat that strikes it.

All objects radiate heat - from wood to glass, and even ice. Energy "Q"™ works by reflecting 95 percent of radiant energy, which is the flow of invisible infrared rays from an object's surface. When installed in an attic, for example, it helps keep a building warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, and is more environmentally friendly than traditional insulation such as fiberglass.

In new construction, the radiant barrier is placed between the wall studs and the exterior facing prior to the addition of aluminum, vinyl, or wood siding. In new roof installation, it is placed between the roof supports and the roof sheathing. When remodeling, the radiant barrier is placed on top of insulation blankets on the attic floor to reflect energy. In California, new homeowners using Energy "Q"™ insulation in their attics are given energy credits.

Terrestrial Uses for Space Technology

Inside a structure, the material can be used to wrap hot water pipes or tanks, insulate and provide a vapor barrier for steam baths or saunas: insulate steam pipes, refrigerant lines, heating, ventilating, or air conditioning ducts; line refrigerated holds on fishing vessels or in food-transport trailers; and insulate boats and aircraft.

On farms, the material protects livestock in stalls and stables, and insulates poultry and rabbit facilities. It also may have application as liners beneath the pavement to bridges in areas where cold weather causes them to freeze over, and beneath golf courses and parks to wrap sprinkler pipes.

Energy "Q"™ was used to cover a commercial gas-fired boiler room in a school, reducing the room temperature by 15 degrees. As a result, the room above the boiler room was able to be used as a classroom. The material also increases the performance of a shrink-wrap oven used to shrink plastic protective coverings over auto seats before shipping. The barrier successfully reflected the energy inward estimating that in these applications, the supplier realized a pay back of 30 days of energy savings.

Energy "Q"™ has found uses for insulation in automobiles and trucks to protect passengers from engine, solar, and exhaust heat. NASCAR drivers use it to help protect them from the extremely high temperatures encountered in the vehicles' cockpits.

The potential applications of this material are just beginning to be realized. Clothing can be made with the material as an insulator; fire fighters' protective suits incorporate Energy "Q"™, as do subzero liners for sleeping bags and emergency care thermal blankets. In the food transportation and storage field, Energy "Q"™ is used in refrigerated vans, railroad cars, picnic coolers, and pizza delivery bags. Seafood companies are using it to insulate bags and to line bulk containers.

The Energy "Q"™ products also are featured as part of a 32 city tour conducted by NASA that began last summer and runs through this year.

LIGHT METAL AGE
December 1996

NASA Space Material Uses on Earth

Tech 2000 has developed an innovative aluminum radiant barrier product that has its origins in the space program. They call this material Energy "Q"™ and are promoting its usefulness in insulating homes, office buildings, industrial plants, and farm buildings. Energy "Q"™ is made of 99 percent aluminum with a fire resistant polypropylene insert. The double sided material reflects 97 percent of the heat that strikes it and also works as a radiation barrier which makes it more efficient, less expensive and easier to install than traditional insulating materials.

Highly effective radiation barriers made of aluminized polymer film have been in use in the nation's space program since the days of the Apollo race to the moon. The insulation ensured that constant, comfortable temperatures were maintained inside the Apollo command and astronauts were able to wear shirt sleeves instead of bulky and uncomfortable space suits. The material also has been used to protect satellites and a number of unmanned spacecraft to guard their inner workings from the extreme temperatures of space. It is in use in the current fleet of space shuttles to protect vehicle computers as well.

The history of Energy "Q"™ begins far back as the early 1920's when radiant barrier was used to insulate residential and commercial buildings all over the United States. In 1945 the product was produced commercially by a New York company, but the government ruled the company a monopoly and shut down production. Radiant barrier was lost to the world until the mid 1950's when Clark E. Beck, P.E. refined and led the Team Wright Labs pioneered the development of the product for NASA. Realizing radiant barrier qualities, NASA immediately labeled it "TOP SECRET", classified it, and radiant barrier was lost again until the late 1980's.

Currently the makers of Energy "Q"™ are trying to get builders to reexamine their use of insulating materials. By using reflective technology to reduce energy consumption, this material is a key element of sophisticated energy conservation technique for homes, office buildings, industrial and agricultural applications that offer dramatic energy savings, while increasing comfort. This material can be incorporated into the design of a structure before it is built, or it can be retrofitted to existing buildings.

Inside a structure it can be used to: wrap hot water heaters tanks and water pipes; insulate and serve as a vapor barrier for saunas and steam baths; insulate steam pipes, petroleum pipes, and refrigerant lines; insulate heating, ventilating, and air conditioning ducts; protect the contents of refrigerator holds on fishing vessels; and insulate boats and aircraft and protect sensitive equipment.

An interesting aspect of the material is that it can be used in automobiles and trucks to protect passengers from engine heat, the heat of exhaust and solar heat. NASCAR drivers have begun using it to help combat the high temperatures they encounter inside their racing vehicles. Clothing can be made with the material as an insulator and it is being used as thermal inserts in footwear. Firefighters' protective suits also incorporate this material as do sub zero liners for sleeping bags and emergency car thermal blankets.

On the farm, the space aged insulation is being used to protect livestock in stalls and stables and to insulate poultry and rabbit facilities. Work is underway to investigate the suitability of the material as liners beneath the pavement in areas where bridges can freeze over in cold weather and beneath golf courses and parks to wrap water pipes used for sprinklers and irrigation systems. Water-carrying pipes used in fire protection systems can also be wrapped with it.

This product is in use in a number of kinds of food transportation systems, ranging from refrigerated vans and railroad cars to picnic coolers and carry bags for pizza delivery. A number of seafood companies are using this material in insulated bags as liners of bulk containers and airline baggage compartments can be lined with it.

Its makers believe that the potential for uses of this material is only beginning to be realized. There are three modes of heat transfer: conduction, convection and radiation. Of the three, radiation is the primary mode by which buildings lose heat. Conduction and convection are secondary and come into play only as matter interrupts or interferes with radiant heat transfer. As matter absorbs radiant energy, it is heated, develops a difference in temperature, and results in molecular motion or mass motion. Air spaces, building materials such as wood, glass and plaster, and insulation all obey the same law of nature, and transfer heat. Solid materials differ, only in the rate of heat transfer which is mainly affected by differences in density, weight, shape permeability and molecular structure. Materials which do not transfer heat can be said to resist heat flow. Direction of heat transfer is an important consideration. Heat is radiated and conducted in all directions, but convected upward. In traditional homes heat is lost through radiation because when heat in the house rises to seek the cold in the attic, it is absorbed by the insulation, divided and allowed to escape through the roof. Radiant barrier insulation methods such as Energy "Q"™ work on the principle that reflecting the heat back down to the house rather than merely absorbing the heat works best to keep warm places warm. Conversely, radiant barrier also works to reflect hear away from the house in the summer. By lining the attic with a radiant barrier material the radiated heat from the sun is reflected back, thus keeping the interior cool.

This material produces products that are clean, lightweight and nontoxic; are unaffected by changes in humidity; do not shrink; and once installed require no maintenance.