Introduction to Heat Reflective Materials
As early as in primitive society, humans' first problem was not food but temperature.
Before the advancement of science and technology to study the three elements of thermal management, people only pursued thicker, thicker, or thicker in thermal insulation.
What Are Some Reflective Materials That Keep Heat Out?
The importance of energy-efficient solutions in residential and commercial environments has led to the development of various reflective materials that keep heat out.
These heat barriers offer excellent protection against radiant heat, improve energy savings, and provide a comfortable living or working environment.
So what material reflects heat?The following are the commonly used materials that Heaterk has compiled for you based on years of industry experience:
Aluminum Foil: Aluminum foil is a widely used insulation material due to its excellent heat-reflective properties. It efficiently reflects heat radiation, reducing heat transfer and providing an effective barrier against radiant heat. This affordable and versatile material can be found in various insulation products and applications.
Heat Reflective Fabrics: Heat-reflective fabrics are designed with specialize fibers or coatings that reflect heat radiation and visible light. These materials offer excellent resistance to heat transfer and can be used in various applications, from clothing to industrial equipment.
Radiant Barrier Insulation Material: Radiant barrier insulation materials are designed to reflect radiant heat, providing a barrier against heat transfer. These materials typically consist of a reflective surface, such as aluminum foil, bonded to a substrate like paper, plastic film, or cardboard. They offer impressive energy savings by reducing heat gain or loss.
Low-Emissivity (Low-E) Glass: Low-E glass is an innovative heat barrier that effectively reduces heat transfer through windows. It features a thin, transparent coating that reflects infrared radiation and visible light, minimizing heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. Low-E glass contributes to significant energy savings and enhanced comfort.
Until the early 2000s, three modes of heat conduction were discovered: heat transfer, heat convection, and heat radiation.
For reflective materials, the reflectivity of thermal radiation is the best indicator to measure the thermal reflection performance of materials.
This article will list top 3 of the best heat reflective materials for you.
TOP3 Glass Panel with Reflective Coating(73%)
Glass panels with gold, silver, aluminum, copper, and other metal coatings have good heat radiation reflection ability in sunlight. When there are specific requirements for visible light, this heat-reflection material is the best choice for heat-reflection glass.
The coating process is used to spray different coatings with heat reflection properties to meet heat insulation requirements in different scenarios. Under the current highest technical level, You can achieve about 73% of the heat reflection, so it is widely used in Automotive thermal insulation glass, thermal insulation film, high-rise building thermal insulation exterior walls, etc., and can bring excellent energy savings effects to buildings or objects of use.
However, the shortcomings of this kind of glass panel are also evident. Due to the glass material, it cannot adapt to scenarios that require flexibility, and it is heavy, so it is not suitable for lightweight systems.
Applications:
- Energy-efficient windows for homes and commercial buildings
- Skylights and curtain walls
- Greenhouses and solariums
TOP2 Aluminum Foil(97%)
Does Aluminum Foil Reflect Heat ?
Since the birth of aluminum foil, it has had an inseparable connection with thermal management.
Untreated aluminum foil features two sides: a shiny, polished surface and a matte, rough surface. The polished surface provides the familiar function of reflection heat, specifically reflecting radiant heat, which includes specific wavelengths such as infrared and ultraviolet light, rather than heat transfer through conduction or convection.
For instance, when you use aluminum foil as an insulation material to wrap food and then heat it in a microwave, the reflective side facing the food significantly enhances the heating efficiency. This improvement is not only due to the reflection of radiant heat but also the conduction of heat that occurs simultaneously. Conversely, when you place foil-wrapped food under direct sunlight, the heating process is substantially slower compared to unwrapped food because, in this scenario, the aluminum foil acts as a radiant barrier, effectively slowing down the heat absorption by shielding the food from direct radiative heat sources.
How Efficient is Aluminum Foil in Reflecting Heat?
Aluminum foil has many advantages. First, it is very light in weight, resistant to water and oil, does not react with chemicals, and is up to 97% heat. The heat reflective fabrics makes it the best choice for handling thermal radiation, this flexible fabric can be combined with any object, so it is straightforward to handle.
Another feature of aluminum foil is its excellent sealing performance, making it very suitable as a thermal insulation material for duct systems, such as air conditioners, air ducts, etc. Its perfect weather resistance makes aluminum foil ideal for radiant heat barriers. Best choice.
However, aluminum foil also has shortcomings. The high thermal conductivity and low tear strength make it impossible to use as a single material. In this case, aluminum foil is often compounded with glass fiber to make aluminum foil glass fiber fabric. Glass fiber has very low Thermal conductivity (R-value), but it is powerless against heat radiation. Therefore, the combination of the two perfectly complements the shortcomings of both sides and, at the same time, has the advantages of both sides. This material can be said to be the best product in thermal insulation.
While aluminum foil has excellent heat reflection efficiency, it does have a critical drawback: its low strength, as even a 5-year-old child can easily tear a piece of aluminum foil.
Therefore, when used as a heat reflective material, it is typically combined with other high-strength materials, such as fiberglass fabric or Kevlar fabric, to ensure the durability and structural integrity of the heat repellent materials. The composite processes for aluminum foil heat repellent materials include lamination and coating, each with the following material characteristics:
Aluminum Foil Laminated Fabric
Manufacturing Process: This involves tightly bonding the aluminum foil layer to the base fabric using adhesive or heat pressing. This method ensures a strong bond between the foil and the fabric, although the flexibility between layers may be somewhat affected.
Characteristics and Applications: Due to the thicker aluminum foil layer, this material generally exhibits better abrasion resistance and tear strength. It is commonly used in applications requiring good thermal insulation and protection, such as fire-resistant clothing, emergency blankets, and other safety-related products.
Aluminum Foil Coated Fabric
Manufacturing Process: Similar to laminated fabric, this process involves applying a coating of aluminum foil to the base fabric, typically using adhesives or heat. The bond is strong, but flexibility may be compromised.Characteristics and Applications: With a thinner aluminum layer, this fabric offers a balance between flexibility and heat reflection. It is suitable for applications that require some degree of insulation and protection, often found in outdoor gear and protective clothing.
Applications:
- Attic insulation
- HVAC duct insulation
- Pipe insulation
- Protective clothing and gear
- Vehicle and equipment covers
- Sunshades and awnings
TOP1 Most Reflective Material: Mirror Silver(99%)
Mirror silver is made through the silver mirror reaction. Silver Mirror Reaction is a chemical reaction in which the solution of silver (Ag) compound is reduced to metallic silver. Since the generated metallic silver is attached to the inner wall of the container, it is as bright as a mirror, which is called the silver mirror reaction.
Highly Reflective
Mirror silver has the best thermal reflectivity (99%) and is generally used in scientific research, aviation, and other fields. Its price is very high and challenging to buy, but its excellent reflects light performance is still the direction of the product sinking into the market. One day, Mirror silver can replace aluminum foil as a new generation of heat reflecting materials.
Applications:
- Roof and wall insulation in buildings
- Insulation for agricultural structures and warehouses
- Greenhouses and solariums
Investing in reflective materials that keep heat out optimizes energy efficiency and reduces heat transfer in various applications. By incorporating heat barriers such as aluminum foil, heat reflective fabrics, radiant barrier insulation materials, and Low-E glass. You can achieve remarkable energy savings and create comfortable living and working environments. Stay ahead by embracing these innovative materials and positively impacting your energy consumption and comfort.
The above are the three most excellent heat-reflective materials. We are a professional manufacturer of heat-reflective materials in China. We have more than 20 years of experience in R&D and manufacturing in thermal management and have obtained many certificates, including UL/BS. With certification, head to our product center to see more high-end fire and insulation materials. 
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