Thermal Conductivity Thermal Probe Study

Report Date: December 1, 2008

Maderia California

Testing Completed by Dr Jun Weng PhD

JBT Labs

Introduction

Insulating Coatings have become common in plants and maintenance facilities throughout
the world. Their architecture has allowed areas to be coated and reduction of temperature
is found by means of the coating.

Typically the standard for testing thermal performance of a material is judged by examining
the thermal conductivity (k) of a substrate. Thermal conductivity is defined as:

K = the rate at which heat passes through a specified material, expressed as the
amount of heat that flows per unit time through a unit area with a temperature gradient
of one degree per unit distance.

With past materials, thermal conductivity tests are typically found via ASTM types of
testing. The most common method is ASTM C177. This test examines heat flow via a
guarded type heat measurement device which directs heat flow (one way) to measure the
substrates ability to block or absorb heat.

Since insulating coatings are relatively thin in comparison to conventional materials

(mineral wool or blanket material), values found using standardized testing have not
coincided with actual thermal performance. Thus, using methods such as ASTM C177 and
C518, have been subject to scrutiny, as prediction methods using values found in these
tests did not explain the thermal differentials measured on the actual surfaces.

Thus, a new method was desired to explain actual performance of an insulating coating
(more specifically Mascoat DTI) by means of a thermal probe. This report identifies the
method that was used and the equipment and results found be measurement and the
formula to calculate the value.

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 Goal of Testing to be performed

The purpose of the test was to obtain a standard for testing insulation coatings and their
true performance and assign a prediction method to thermal efficiency. This should be
repeatable and provide consistent numbers for scientific quantification.

The test, to be known as the Thermal Conductivity Probe Study, would also have to be
easily created for rapid measuring. Thus, creation of the thermal probe would need to be
easily coated with measurement of dry film thickness that was easily obtainable.

Within these testing method, measurement to obtain thermal conductivity on true

performance of the coating and assign a value in scientific units that would coincide with
standard measurement devices was important. These measurement should also be
consistent with forecasting of thermal performance of the coating at various thicknesses.

Once the measurement was secure, these methods could be used as a tool to help to
extrapolate thermal performance and forecasting energy efficiency.

Methodology of the testing to be conducted

The methodology for testing the coating was to construct a Thermal conductivity probe
sensor by using line heating source method. It was determined that the testing sensor that
would fit the design apparatus was one in which was fabricated by Thermal Logic (Pullman,
Washington). This company was selected, as its reputation is known for good testing
equipment and accuracy with this author.

To gather the information provided by the Thermal Probe, a 16 channel data logging device
was interfaced to a laptop computer. The computer incorporated data logging software for
tabulation.

The probe was coated with Mascoat DTI Industrial coating. Mascoat provided this coated
to the lab and the probe was coated internally.

Coating was applied via probe dip method to achieve 125-130 mil (0.000”) average and
allowed to dry min of 2-4 hours between coats. Coat average was 25 mils dry and roughly
30-32 mils wet per dip. NOTE: coating was done in laboratory conditions of approx. 72 deg
F with 40-50% humidity.

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The coated probe was then allowed to cure for 5 days prior to the test. The curing
temperature was approx. 72-74 deg F during its cure process.

Three tests were conducted with an average for thermal conductivity by means of the
thermal probe. Conclusions provided to Mascoat for interpretation and reporting.

The following is information from East 360 sensor and probe that was used for
measurement:

Dimensions: Handle is 25 x 13 x 13 mm long, Needle is 60mm long, 1.27mm diameter.

Heater resistance: 70 ohms (1041.5 ohm/meter).
Temperature Sensor: 10K Precision Thermistor.
Cable length: 2m

Probe use
The thermal conductivity sensor consists of a 60mm long stainless steel needle. The
needle contains an Evan ohm heater and a precision 10K thermistor. The thermal
conductivity of a material is determined by inserting the needle in the material, applying
current to the heater, and monitoring the temperature rise with the thermistor. The
thermal conductivity can be calculated from the power input and temperature rise during
a 1 to 2 minute heating period.

Testing Pictures

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Testing Report Thermal Probe/12012008 - Mascoat Products 4

 Data Plot for thermal probe coated with Mascoat DTI at 125-130 mils (3.1-3.5mm)

Based on the above and plots the following thermal conductivity results are shown
below:

q Test 1 thermal conductivity = 0.0711 W/m/°C*

q Test 2 thermal conductivity = 0.0681 W/m/°C*

q Test 3 thermal conductivity = 0.0700 W/m/°C*

q Average thermal conductivity: 0.0698 W/m/°C*

After the testing was completed this value of 0.068 W/m/C was determined as the thermal
conductivity for the Mascoat DTI Thermal Insulating Coating.

This value as determined via the Thermal Testing Probe Setup is to be most
representative of the performance from a thermal conductivity value (k) and would be
assignable within thermal efficiency estimation programs.

This 0.068 value as defined by thickness will help to extrapolate thermal temperatures and
thermal efficiency estimations in the sense of forecasting.

NOTE: This testing report was provided to Mascoat for means of coating performance evaluation. This
method is not ASTM certified, but practices and reporting performed were in accordance with good

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engineering and measurements taken were based on instruments that were calibrated prior to testing. It is
believed that this method can be used as a solid benchmark for determining thermal conductivity for thin film
materials.

END REPORT

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