Are you a science student? If yes, then you might have learned about materials that reflect heat. Before proceeding, do you have an idea of which kind of heat I am referring to? It is simply thermal heat, particularly sun heat. You all love morning sunshine, but afternoon sunshine is a bad experience in summers. Some of you prefer working in dim lights, but many of the home and work settings require enough light.
Do you know how greenhouses maintain moderate temperatures while they need a high amount of light? Natural light is critical to good plant growth, so greenhouses manage to provide enough diffused visible sunlight. However, it also doesn’t work longer and the temperature increases.
For plants and us, sunlight is necessary and we love it, but we cannot withstand high temperatures. More particularly, people living in closed areas are in bad condition and moods.
So to decrease the indoor temperatures, materials that reflect heat, for example, shading systems and sometimes personalized lacquers are used. These applications effectively reduce the heat, but in most cases, entirely block off visible sunlight.
Hence, using glass panels with an infrared (IR) light-reflecting coating is the most efficient technique to offer heat control and meet the optimal lighting conditions. Let’s explore the details of 3 materials that reflect heat.
3 Heat Reflective Materials
The 3 most effective and applied materials that reflect heat are;
- Aluminum foil
- Foylon
- Mylar
Aluminum Foil – Reflects 80-95% of heat
Well, aluminum foil is a material that stays cool in heat and also it reflects light. About 95% of the infrared heat that strikes the aluminum foil surface is reflected off of it, thus preventing heat transfer. Heat loss is prevented while blocking the radiation flow.
Aluminum foil is a very thin and shiny material so it possesses distinct characteristics. It bounces heat waves back outward rather than effectively absorbing or conducting heat. This explains why aluminum foil cools almost instantly after being removed from the oven, even after it has been there for some time.
The heat hasn’t been absorbed by it like it would by other materials. This is the reason why aluminum is preferred for coating roofs and in the production of space products.
So, if you are interested in buying materials that reflect heat, then consider aluminum foil as well. However, aluminum may or may not be used as a heat absorbing material for room.
Foylon
It is a popular material that reflects heat efficiently. It is referred to as grow light-reflective fabric. You will find this in grow tents. You can shop for foylon reflective sheets online or in physical stores. Spun polyester fiber and foil laminate are the 2 manufacturing components of foylon. These components add to the reinforcement characteristics of foylon and the reflexivity rate is 95%. Why should foylon be preferred when you have so many other options as well? Don’t count on the price tag, else consider the durability standard.
Compared to other regularly used materials that reflect heat, foylon is thicker and notably more rip and tear-resistant. Foylon has a drawback in that it produces a lot of heat. Consequently, you must ensure that your ventilation system is of high quality.
Mylar
In the market, Mylar is famous for its distinct heat reflective properties. Its applications are widespread and you may frequently notice them in grow tents. Do you recognize the world’s popular grow tent manufacturer – Gorilla? They are using the same material that reflects heat. The thickness of a mylar reflective sheet ranges between 1-2 MM. You can buy both rolls and sheets. About 95% of the heat is reflected when you use Mylar. Isn’t it mind-blowing when you are tired of bad-quality materials?
Mylar is a good choice when you are concerned about reflective properties, but also, mylar has a drawback. It is not reliable in the long term as it is vulnerable to tears and rips. Moreover, it is evident that when mylar is conducting heat, it may harm your crops if ventilation is compromised. It is recommended to set up a reliable tent ventilation system if you plan to use materials that reflect heat like mylar.
Take Away!
You have 3 materials that reflect heat on your priority list. Now choose one of them that best fulfills your needs and is budget-friendly. Don’t compromise on the reliability and durability of any heat reflective material you choose. Any of such material will inevitably absorb sunlight (to some extent), but your focus is to buy thermal reflectors.