A recent feature in Coatings World by David Savastano highlights NanoTech Materials’ Insulative Ceramic Particle (ICP)™ technology, which is revolutionizing wildfire protection and energy-efficient roofing. NanoTech’s innovative coatings address two of today’s most pressing environmental challenges—fire mitigation and heat reduction—by integrating cutting-edge nanoparticle technology into Wildfire Shield Coating and Cool Roof Coat.
A Recognition of Innovation: TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024
NanoTech’s breakthrough technology has earned global recognition, landing a spot on TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024. CEO Mike Francis sees this as a validation of the company’s critical role in adaptive materials, particularly in combating climate-driven heat challenges and wildfire risks.
“Our patented Insulative Ceramic Particle technology was developed to tackle critical gaps in energy use and climate impact by addressing needs from commercial facilities to vulnerable communities in wildfire zones,” Francis stated.
From Garage Startup to Industry Leader
Founded in 2020, NanoTech’s origins trace back to a viral YouTube video by Brazilian professor Claudinei Calado, a thermodynamics expert who pioneered ICP technology.
Chief Commercial Officer Carrie Horazeck recounts the company’s humble beginnings:
- Early products were hand-crushed in a driveway, blended in kitchen blenders, and cured in a backyard BBQ.
- NanoTech’s first labeled product was stored in a Home Depot bucket.
- Just four years later, the company has scaled to a 42,000-square-foot ISO 9001-certified facility in Katy, TX, capable of coating 55 million square feet of roofs annually.
Backed by three venture capital firms, three corporate strategics, and seven family offices, NanoTech has also participated in Halliburton Labs Clean Energy Accelerator and the Rice Alliance Clean Energy Accelerator.
Key Markets & Applications
NanoTech focuses on passive fire protection and building envelope heat mitigation, offering versatile solutions:
- Wildfire Shield Coating – Provides fire protection for open-air wooden infrastructure, such as highway bridges, timber lagging, and utility poles.
- Cool Roof Coat – Reduces heat absorption, lowers HVAC cooling loads by up to 49%, and helps cut Scope 2 carbon emissions.
- Future expansions – NanoTech plans to launch exterior wall coatings and window applications in Q1 next year.
Fire Mitigation: A Passive Solution for Wildfires
NanoTech’s Wildfire Shield Coating is being utilized by the California Department of Transportation to protect wooden infrastructure in wildfire-prone areas.
Unlike conventional intumescent coatings that rely on toxic chemicals and require activation through high temperatures, Wildfire Shield is non-toxic, reusable, and provides long-term fire resistance. The coating’s ability to withstand multiple thermal cycles makes it a game-changer for fireproofing infrastructure.
“Our particle does not require a reactivation temperature – the particle sinters to create a hardened shield,” Horazeck explained. “It can go through multiple fires and thermal cycles without degrading.”
Cool Roofs: Rethinking Energy Efficiency
NanoTech’s Cool Roof Coat introduces a new layer of efficiency beyond traditional reflective coatings. While most cool roofs rely solely on reflectivity, they lose effectiveness as dirt accumulates. NanoTech’s solution integrates its patented ICP technology, creating a physical heat barrier that maintains performance over time.
Key benefits include:
- Heat rejection + low thermal conductivity – Unlike conventional reflective-only coatings, NanoTech’s solution prevents heat penetration, ensuring sustained efficiency.
- HVAC cost reduction up to 49% – Compared to 15% savings from standard coatings, making it a more cost-effective long-term investment.
- Scalable adoption for Fortune 500 companies – NanoTech is currently partnering with three major corporations to implement its technology across large retail spaces.
“Reflective coatings work—until they get dirty. Our technology creates a physical insulation barrier, ensuring performance even in harsh conditions,” Horazeck emphasized.
A Global Vision for Heat Mitigation
NanoTech’s mission is to lead the industry in heat mitigation solutions across the built environment, logistics, and heavy infrastructure sectors. The company is expanding its presence in fire-prone and high-temperature regions, with a particular focus on government infrastructure and commercial real estate.
“We are preparing the world for the heat-driven climate realities of the future,” Horazeck concluded.
To read the full article from Coatings World, visit: NanoTech Materials Brings Thermal Coatings Technology to Wildfires & Roofs
