[Domesteading 00427] Re: glass bubbles, hollow sphere insulation

[Robert Vance]

This is a new one to me... the only thing I can think of is perlite as an insulator but I guess the stuffing for bean bag chairs could work too.

 

BobV!
 
> From: jmgoldma at dwx.com
> To: domesteading at sculptors.com
> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:27:31 -0500
> Subject: [Domesteading 00425] Re: glass bubbles, hollow sphere insulation
> 
> Hi group,
> Sometime ago I had read about some ceramic beads one could put in paint to get Rvalue. As it turns out, the ceramic is more expensive, very hard and heavier than the various grades of glass bubbles one can now buy. For the cryogenics stuff (storing liquid nitrogen at -273F), they claim 5-50x the R value of fiberglass depending on how its implemented. Unlike perlite, these do not pack down flat and settle once in place, but can still be poured - even into or around pipes. Since they are the equivalent of hollow grains of sand, there shouldn't be any big environmental hazards. I'm looking into the foam you can use with this for insulation just to see what the options are. Seems like they'd make some good lightweight panels or liners.
> 
> http://www.3m.com/product/information/Glass-Bubbles.html
> 
> I thought I'd pass this along to the group. Any ideas?
> 
> Cheers - Dan G.
>