Tapes and foils are passive thermal control systems; their purpose is to minimize heat transfer through the panel or surface they protect . Top level motorsport shares many technologies and materials with the aerospace industry; heat-reflective tapes are but one example. There is however more than a little confusion regarding the specifications and performance of tapes that are actually used in space applications.

Since there is no atmosphere in space, the heat transfer properties of materials used there are defined by an emittance number for radiated heat. The lower that number, the less heat pass-through or transfer they allow.

Real gold is typically used as the heat-reflective mirror for the tapes used in space for 2 reasons:

1) the gold has a very low emittance number (0.02)

2) gold is completely inert; gamma rays will not pass through it.

Thus, in space applications, you will see gold used on both interior surfaces (to keep heat inside a satellite or spacecraft) as well as exterior surfaces (to keep gamma rays out). Here on earth, heat is transferred through both conduction (heating the air around an object; this warmed air then transfers heat to the object. This is how ovens work) as well as radiance (actual radiated heat energy from the heat source). The emittance number for our AEROLITE tape is 0.03, so 97% of the radiated heat is reflected (not passed through), as compared to 98% reflection for real gold tape ( 0.02 emittance): This is an insignificant difference, especially since the conduction heat effect is the same for both materials (when used in the presence of air). This is the exact opposite of a space application for the same material, where 0.02 to 0.03 is a 50% performance differential when you are trying to keep interior heat from escaping from a 30+ year life satellite ( and where no air conduction heating is present).

The other earthly consideration is cost: our aluminum-mirror tape is approximately 80% less expensive than the real gold material . Finally, it should also be noted that the “gold” heat reflective tape that is marketed to the racing and automotive high-performance industries is actually an aluminum mirror that is overlayed with a gold-colored film which is FOR APPEARANCE SAKE ONLY: it adds nothing to the actual performance of the tape.

Please note the chart below.

AEROLITE tape: 5 layers

1. Acrylic overcoat: for resistance to humidity, chemicals, salt fog
2. Aluminum mirror: 0.001” thickness; for heat reflection
3. Polymide Kapton: 0.001” thickness; for heat insulation and burn resistance to 750F
4. Acrylic overcoat
5. 3M high-temperature pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA)

Total thickness: less than 0.005”; weight: 98g per square meter; 2.9oz per square yard. Aerolite rolls = 15" wide x 30 ft.

AEROLITE PLUS: 3 layers

1. Aluminized dual mirror cloth
2. Aramid cloth backing
3. High temperature pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA)

Total thickness: less than 0.015” ; weight: 288g per square meter; 8.5oz per square yard. Aerolite Plus rolls = 20" wide x 30 ft.

EMBOSSED ALUMINUM FOIL: 2 layers

1. 0.005” thickness embossed aluminum foil
2. High-temperature pressure-sensitive adhesive

Total thickness is less than 0.008”; weight : 347g per square meter; 10.22oz per square yard. Embossed rolls = 20" wide x 30 ft.

Competitor’s EMBOSSED “GOLD” TAPE: 4 layers

1. Gold colored film
2. Aluminum mirror
3. Insulator: unknown material
4. Pressure –sensitive adhesive

Total thickness: 0.006”; weight 230g per square meter; 6.8oz per square yard.