A domestic knowledge-based company has designed a nanocoating that increases the efficiency of radiators by improving thermal conductivity and reducing energy loss.
Ordinary radiators produced by Tash Radiator Company were classified as C on the energy table, but the company’s new radiators that use nanocoating produced by Schiller Farayand Pars Company are classified as B, the news portal of the Iran Nanotechnology Innovation Council reported.
Energy labels on electrical appliances classify energy consumption efficiency on an A to G scale: the A class (green) being the most energy efficient appliances and the G class (red) the least.
Due to the use of this nanocoating, heat transfer in these radiators is more efficient compared with that of ordinary radiators.
The issue gains significance in countries that need to lower their energy consumption, or have high energy prices. For instance, in Afghanistan, where coal is used for energy production and where lower energy consumption is critical, this offers a competitive advantage.
Years ago, Tash Radiator Company used the covers of a German company to produce radiators, which faced problems due to the incompatibility of these covers with Iran's climatic conditions.
Therefore, Tash Radiator Company, in cooperation with Schiller Farayand Pars Company, used zirconium nanocoating technology in radiators. This cover is less thick than its earlier counterpart and compatible with Iran’s climate, leading to improved heat transfer.
Colors used in these radiators are based on epoxy, which offers a type of insulation. Therefore, by reducing the thickness of paint and substrate, the domestic company increased the heat transfer coefficient and produced a more efficient radiator for export.
Nanocoating Improves Metal’s Resistance to Corrosion
Schiller Farayand Pars Company’s zirconium nanocoating for metal equipment and parts is also recognized for increasing the resistance of metallic equipment and parts to corrosion.
One of the cost-effective and common methods for surface coating in different industries is the use of conversion coatings which, in addition to increasing the anti-corrosive quality of the metal, increases the paint’s adhesion to the surface.
Phosphate or chromate conversion coatings are the most commonly used coatings, but studies have shown that these coatings are harmful to the environment and human health, apart from being economically unviable for the producer. Therefore, researchers were looking for another material to replace phosphate and chromate coatings such as zinc oxide, titanium oxide and vanadium oxide.
The chromate conversion coating is used on many metals and their alloys, but the main problem is its toxicity. One of the toxic compounds created by this coating is hexavalent chrome, which is carcinogenic.
Phosphate coating (also known as zinc phosphate coating) is not intrinsically toxic, but the post-treatment can give rise to poisonous chemicals that threaten human health.
Zirconium coatings produced by the domestic company are a good alternative because, unlike phosphate and chromate coatings, they do not create environmental problems and the coating process is done at ambient temperature and requires less time compared with other methods.
Another important feature of zirconium coatings is their lower weight compared with chromate and phosphate coatings.
Domestic Nanocomposite Insulation
A domestic company had earlier produced insulation with nanotechnology that can be used in several areas of the construction and industrial sectors.
Insulation produced by Sazeh Paidar Elahie Company can be installed in boiler rooms and cut energy consumption by an estimated 60%. The product is a foam-like elastomeric nanocomposite useful for thermal and acoustic insulation.
The insulation, produced from acrylonitrile butadiene rubber/polyvinyl chloride (NBR/PVC) polymers, is considered one of the most widely used insulations in different industries, buildings, hotels, towers, hospitals, petrochemical firms and refineries. The insulations are produced in the forms of sheet, pipes and closed cell structure and effective in insulating heating and cooling pipes, channels, air conditioning systems, utility equipment and tanks.
They are durable and have a longer life than normal insulations due to their solid resilience to humidity and penetration of water vapor.
Another important advantage of this nanocomposite insulation is its germicidal properties and high resistance in environments with high humidity and temperature fluctuations.
Standard tests conducted on this type of insulation compared to simple closed-cell elastomeric insulation without nanoparticles show that the surface of nanocomposite insulation is not suitable for the proliferation of microorganisms due to its antibacterial properties.
As a result, this insulation can be used in sanitary areas, water and air channels, coolers or places prone to the growth of microbes and bacteria.
Nanocomposite insulations have much lower thermal conductivity than glass wool.
The coefficient of thermal conductivity of this nanocomposite insulation is about 0.0368 K/W/m, which is lower than that of glass wool insulation.
Also, closed-cell elastomeric foam insulation has very high resistance coefficient against water vapor penetration ≥ 7000 μ, which is of much higher value than mineral wool insulation. It is more effective in preventing corrosion of insulated metal surfaces.
