Field Evaluation of Thermal Behavior of Aerogel-Infused Paint for Building Insulation

Thermal coatings are highly sought after in both everyday living and industrial manufacturing. The utilization of aerogel in building insulation primarily relies on its low density, thermal insulating properties, flame retardancy, high light transmittance, and other distinctive features. This study investigates the thermal performance of an aerogel-based paint compared to conventional commercial paint for building envelope applications in hot climate conditions. Experimental tests were conducted under outdoor solar irradiation to assess surface temperature behavior, heat absorption characteristics, and effective thermal conductivity. A monitoring infrastructure was established to achieve this goal, allowing the on-site observation of temperature profile using a wireless sensor system called LoRa technology. According to the results, on average, aerogel coating showed a higher thermal reflectivity of 7% than conventional acrylic paint, around 2%. Besides that, the house applied with aerogel paint had a thermal conductivity of 0.019 W/m2°C while the conventional acrylic paint had a thermal conductivity of 0.131 W/m2°C, representing an 85% improvement in thermal insulation performance. This enhanced performance is attributed to the aerogel’s low thermal conductivity and high solar reflectivity, which together limit heat transfer through the wall. The findings highlight the potential of aerogel-enhanced paints as a passive thermal control strategy for improving indoor comfort and reducing energy demand in hot climate regions.