Comments on: Graphite in Insulation — Better R-Value but Can You Write with It?

By: Andrew Michler

Andrew Michler — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 04:42:01 +0000

Well that is some interesting
Well that is some interesting physics, and low tech to boot. I saw stacks of the grey foam at this huge Passivhaus project in Heidelberg, and frankly didn’t think anything of it outside of perhaps branding. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwr03B5jKcJPVm91WXNiRnc5T0RCZTNkLTA2R0hJTnAzZ0c4/edit?usp=sharing

Still not a fan of the stuff and disappointing to see so much foam in the large Germany projects.

By: Curt Kinder

Curt Kinder — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 19:29:51 +0000

Graphite apparently improves
Graphite apparently improves the R-Value of EPS foam, perhaps from 3.5 to 4.5 per inch.

Other foams, such as XPS (blue or pink board) and poly iso, perform at 6+ per inch w/o graphite.

For whatever reason, ICF is not made of anything other than EPS

By: Robert Thomas

Robert Thomas — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 01:20:11 +0000

Neopor sells locally for $18
Neopor sells locally for $18 for an 8x4 sheet 2" thick with an R9 value. But home depot sells for $25 a 2" sheet with an advertised R12, so it is not obvious neopor is a better insulator. Can someone clear this up?

By: Dale Sherman

Dale Sherman — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 19:45:08 +0000

I assume the graphite bonds
I assume the graphite bonds with the EPS, otherwise there would be a high risk of airborne graphite dust when cutting or working with the material. OSHA limits exposure to 15 million particles per cubic foot for a TWA 8-hour day.

By: Dale Sherman

Dale Sherman — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 19:37:34 +0000

So when we shake a little
So when we shake a little graphite powder into the cellulose hopper, we're actually increasing it's r-value just a skosh? Sweet.

By: David Eakin

David Eakin — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 20:40:21 +0000

What about current costs vs
What about current costs vs other options?

By: Curt Kinder

Curt Kinder — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 20:05:54 +0000

Rich, I think that it "
Rich, I think that it "jives" the same way aluminum foil, though a superb conductor of heat is also a most excellent radiant barrier.

I'm guessing that the process of conduction through a piece of foam has a component made up of heat radiating across the volume of each little bitty bubble. If an additive reduces that component, the overall thermal performance of the product rises.

I don't have the data, but the concept passes my sniff test on first blush.

By: Leigha Dickens

Leigha Dickens — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 19:58:34 +0000

I'll break off a chunk and
I'll break off a chunk and see if I can write with it.

FYI, we got those panels from a company in Johnson City, TN called General Panel Corporation. They get the Neopor from BASF and they assemble the panels in their factory to customer-specified sizes and thicknesses.

By: Rich McGrath

Rich McGrath — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 19:50:29 +0000

How would the use of graphite
How would the use of graphite in insulation of any kind jive with the fact that graphite is a superior heat transfer mahttp://www.wattsradiant.com/products/flexplate/terial ?

By: Allison Bailes

Allison Bailes — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 19:50:20 +0000

David B.:
David B.: You know, you're probably right. I don't think about EIFS much because I don't see it all that often.

Charles L.: Yes, there are certainly issues with EPS, but I think melting on a hot day has got to be one of the least likely problems.

John N.: I think I saw somewhere that only one ICF manufacturer has started using it so far, and I believe it was them.

geoff h.: It's only about 20% better in R-value, depending on density, but it can save up to 50% of the material.