Bicolano engineer develops thermal insulating powder

A Bicolano engineer made a thermal insulating powder that can be applied as coating or paint, which can reduce indoor temperatures by 30 percent to 60 percent.

Engineer Dexter De Castro from Naga City, Camarines Sur invented this product in 2019, inspired by NASA's technology. 

The coating used in space shuttles was made of pre-cracked ceramic tiles with high silica content, alumina, and nano ceramic particles. This served as his model.

“Itong space shuttle kang NASA, hali siya sa space kapag naglalaog siya sa Earth. Ang pig-coating ninda duman sa surface kang space shuttles is pre-cracked na ceramic tiles nganing dae masulo si tao sa laog kang space shuttle kapag naglalaog sa atmosphere kang Earth. Mas halangkaw ang silica content, alumina, asin nanoceramic particles [kaito],” De Castro said.

De Castro’s powder is made from a mixture of soil and silica clay or white clay.

In 2023, Engineer Junval Parco tested the powder, applying it to walls directly exposed to heat. He observed a significant reduction in temperature after just two coatings.

“Dati kapag nagsandal ako sa wall ko kapag maturog ako mainiton. After na mai-apply ko ito [na powder], at least mga two  coatings lang ngani, okay na, bako na gayo mainit,” Parco said.

Parco now uses the powder in residential projects and receives positive feedback from clients.

De Castro sells a bucket of insulating powder for P1,620 and a kilogram for P330.

He aims to patent his invention, which typically takes 48 months due to its unique characteristics.

“Ang filing for patent registration [ay] nagpo-protect kang intellectual property kang sarong tao. Ibig sabihon, kapag ika, nag-rent ning patent, tatawan ka ning proteksyon na itong imbensyon mo, dae magagamit kang iba. Ika, sa sadiri mo, nagkakaigwa ka ning security sa imbensyon mo,” Angelyn Otilla, a Senior Science Research Specialist from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) - Camarines Sur, said.—GMA Regional TV