One of the greatest benefits of a thermal barrier coating is its ability to reduce heat transfer and dramatically increase the insulation properties of buildings and materials. However, have you ever stopped to wonder how thermal barrier coatings are able to produce this effect?
The goal of this article is to reveal the inner workings of a thermal barrier coating to expose how they can reduce heat transfer so effectively. Read on to learn how these coatings mitigate temperature changes and provide other benefits as well.
Thermal Barrier Coatings Use Layers to Reduce Heat Transfer
To understand how thermal barrier coatings provide their primary benefit, you need to understand their primary components. Most thermal barrier coatings consist of multiple layers, each of which has a crucial role in the effectiveness of the coating.
The first layer is the metallic bond coating. This layer does not reduce thermal transfer, but it provides a critical function nonetheless. Metallic bond coats are what allow the thermal barrier coating to adhere to the surfaces to which you choose to apply it.
A second layer, known as the ceramic top coat layer, lies on top of the metallic bond coat. This layer consists of a carefully blended mix of ceramic materials that ultimately provides insulation and heat transfer reduction, which thermal barrier coatings are well known for.
At times, the ceramic top coat will consist of multiple layers, which add to the thermal barrier coating’s overall performance. Still, regardless of how many layers are in the ceramic top coat, it is this layer that is responsible for mitigating temperature changes and limiting heat transfer for a building or object.
What Are the Benefits of Reducing Heat Transfer?
You now know the inner layers of a thermal barrier coating that allow it to reduce heat transfer. However, have you ever wondered why reducing heat transfer is beneficial in the first place? If so, you’re likely not alone.
Reducing heat transfer comes with several benefits. The most prominent of those benefits is that reducing heat transfer results in an incredible improvement to a building’s insulation. When a thermal barrier coating is in place, the interior spaces of a building will be far less affected by extreme temperature changes that happen outside.
This increase in insulation makes it easier for buildings to maintain comfortable temperatures in indoor spaces. When that process becomes easier, your HVAC systems won’t need to work as hard to perform their function, leading to lower energy use and more affordable energy bills.
The insulating properties of thermal barrier coatings make them useful for nearly any building. However, reducing heat transfer has other benefits. For example, components in industrial manufacturing often generate heat, which makes their function more difficult. Thermal barrier coatings limit the amount of heat the components can generate and transfer, leading to more efficient production and greater longevity for the components.
What Materials Can Thermal Barrier Coatings Insulate and Protect?
Now that you know the advantages of using a thermal barrier coating for heat transfer reduction, you might be wondering which materials you can apply a thermal barrier coating to. Fortunately, there are many materials that can benefit from a thermal barrier coating. Below are some of the top examples:
- Asphalt
- Concrete
- Glass
- Masonry
- Metal
- Plastic
- Sheetrock
- Wood
Clearly, thermal barrier coatings are useful for many material types. Not only will these coatings prevent heat transfer for these materials, but they will also provide a valuable layer of protection that dramatically increases the longevity of the materials.
Top Industries for Thermal Barrier Coating Use
The previous section revealed that thermal barrier coatings are applicable to many material types. However, thermal barrier coatings are also useful across a wide range of industries. Below are some examples of industries that can benefit most from using thermal barrier coatings:
- Residential and commercial construction
- Transportation
- Storage
- Greenhouses
- HVAC
- Manufacturing
- Marine applications
Since heat transfer reduction is so beneficial to different situations, it is no surprise that thermal barrier coatings are useful in many industries. In fact, even if you don’t see your industry listed above, there remains a reasonable chance that you could still benefit from using a thermal barrier coating.
Additional Benefits of Thermal Barrier Coatings
The benefits of heat transfer reduction are fantastic, but it is not the only advantage that a thermal barrier coating can provide. Below are a few of the other incredible benefits you’ll experience when you use a thermal barrier coating:
- Reduced corrosion
- Greater protection and longevity for materials
- Reduced condensation
- Reduced expansion and contraction
- Greater energy efficiency
Find the Best Thermal Barrier Coating on the Market
By now, you have a better understanding of how thermal barrier coatings reduce heat transfer. You also have a better idea of why that’s beneficial, as well as some of the other leading applications and benefits of thermal barrier coatings. As such, you’re likely interested in finding a thermal barrier coating that you can use in your industry.
The next step in that journey is to find a thermal barrier coating producer that continually creates high-performing products. At ThermaCote, we’re confident that we have the ideal thermal barrier coating for you, regardless of how you intend to use it. Contact us today to learn more!