jghutchinson
New member
I have two rolls of reflectix sitting in my garage. After doing a little more research I am now deciding whether it is worth using it all. From what I understand, in order for reflectix or any radiant heat barrier to work for that matter... you need to have an airgap. If the reflectix is touching anything (like the interior metal of a vehicle) it will actually conduct the heat rather than reflect it. The ability of the reflectix to reflect the heat is negated by the simple fact that it is sitting behind the vans interior walls.
This video does a good job of explaining how reflective heat barriers must be used to work effectively:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1IwS0_lpBc
I would like someone that actually has a grounded understanding of thermodynamics to chime in on this rather than people that are simply regurgitating other people's potentially unfounded information.In an effort to reduce internal temperatures inside my van my initial plan was to use rattletrap buytl mats for sound deadening as the first layer on the interior panels, then lay reflectix on top of this. After thinking about this configuration in more depth I am now thinking that this will actually cause an increase of internal temperatures inside my van. Here are my thoughts...
The rattle trap is a dense buytl based mat with a reflective barrier on the back. The buytl mats density and general composition (like an asphalt road) will actually absorb heat in the form of sunlight that is hitting the van's panels. I am thinking that the bare metal of the van is actually more efficient at dissipating heat on its own when compared to the metal coupled with the rattle trap. Taking this further, if we then lay the reflectix on top of the rattle trap, all of this heat being absorbed by the rattletrap will simply be conducted and transferred across.
I am expecting people with argue that because reflectix is a double sided reflective material with the bubble rap in between, that this will act as a sufficient thermal decoupler but based on this video I am beginning to wonder if that is a load of bull.
I'm trying to avoid doing a lot of work that may actually be doing more harm than good. I've already purchased the materials, just not sure if I want to actually use them now.
This video does a good job of explaining how reflective heat barriers must be used to work effectively:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1IwS0_lpBc
I would like someone that actually has a grounded understanding of thermodynamics to chime in on this rather than people that are simply regurgitating other people's potentially unfounded information.In an effort to reduce internal temperatures inside my van my initial plan was to use rattletrap buytl mats for sound deadening as the first layer on the interior panels, then lay reflectix on top of this. After thinking about this configuration in more depth I am now thinking that this will actually cause an increase of internal temperatures inside my van. Here are my thoughts...
The rattle trap is a dense buytl based mat with a reflective barrier on the back. The buytl mats density and general composition (like an asphalt road) will actually absorb heat in the form of sunlight that is hitting the van's panels. I am thinking that the bare metal of the van is actually more efficient at dissipating heat on its own when compared to the metal coupled with the rattle trap. Taking this further, if we then lay the reflectix on top of the rattle trap, all of this heat being absorbed by the rattletrap will simply be conducted and transferred across.
I am expecting people with argue that because reflectix is a double sided reflective material with the bubble rap in between, that this will act as a sufficient thermal decoupler but based on this video I am beginning to wonder if that is a load of bull.
I'm trying to avoid doing a lot of work that may actually be doing more harm than good. I've already purchased the materials, just not sure if I want to actually use them now.
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