Acrylic coatings play a vital role in thermal insulation applications, but enhancing their efficiency requires advanced material engineering. This study explores the incorporation of pure silica fume nanoparticles (SF NPs) and 3-APTES-functionalised silica fume (F-SF) into water-based acrylic paints to improve thermal properties.

The nanoparticles were synthesised and characterised using techniques such as infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to confirm their functionalisation and structural quality. When F-SF nanoparticles were added to acrylic coatings at concentrations of 0.5–1.5 wt%, they significantly improved coating adhesion (up to 5B), hardness, and gloss due to enhanced dispersion and strong interfacial interactions within the paint matrix.

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Improved thermal insulation properties

Thermal conductivity (K) measurements revealed that pure SF NPs reduced the paint’s thermal conductivity by 22 %, while F-SF NPs achieved a 33 % reduction. This improvement is attributed to increased porosity and thermal circulation pathways, which hinder energy transfer and enhance insulation. Functionalisation with 3-APTES further optimised nanoparticle dispersion, resulting in superior thermal insulation performance.

With their ability to reduce energy transfer, these functionalised nanoparticles offer significant potential for industrial applications in thermal protective coatings, enabling energy-efficient solutions for buildings and infrastructure.

Source: Farkoush, M. A., Rashidi, A., & Alaei, M., Thermal insulation of water-based acrylic coatings reinforced with APTES-functionalised silica fume nanoparticles. Scientific Reports, Article 2361 (2026).