Core Technology
Insulative Ceramic Particle (ICP™) Technology
Insulative Ceramic Particle (ICP™) is a patented ceramic additive engineered by NanoTech Materials that combines high emissivity with low thermal conductivity, enabling coated surfaces to actively reject heat rather than only reflecting it.
ICP™ is the active ingredient that distinguishes every NanoTech Materials coating from conventional alternatives. Where a traditional reflective coating works through a single thermal mechanism (bouncing sunlight back to the sky), ICP™ layers two additional mechanisms on top. The finished coating reflects what it can, radiates what it absorbs as long-wave infrared, and slows what does pass through.
That three-vector design is why ICP™-based products hold their performance under conditions that degrade traditional coatings. A coated roof three years into service retains its thermal advantage even after the visible reflectance has dropped from cosmetic dirt. An industrial pipe coated with ICP™ continues to deliver personnel-burn protection across the operating thermal cycles that would crack a cementitious coating.
How ICP™ Works: Three Thermal Mechanisms in One Coating
Reflectance
The pigment package bounces visible and near-infrared sunlight back before it can heat the substrate. This is the mechanism every cool-roof coating uses; ICP™ shares it but does not depend on it alone.
High Emissivity
Heat that does get absorbed is re-radiated as long-wave infrared, escaping back into the atmosphere rather than conducting into the building. Emissivity is what keeps performance stable after the surface gets dirty and reflectance falls.
Low Thermal Conductivity
The ceramic particles themselves conduct heat poorly, so even the energy that is absorbed travels through the coating film slowly. This is the mechanism that delivers cool-touch surfaces on hot industrial pipes and that prevents wildfire flame from quickly heating wooden substrates.
The three mechanisms compound. A high-emissivity, low-conductivity coating that is also CRRC-rated reflective performs better than the sum of three single-mechanism coatings stacked, because the same particle is doing all three jobs at the same point in the film stack.
What ICP™ Is Not
ICP™ is frequently confused with adjacent technologies. The distinctions matter for both spec writers and procurement.
Not a traditional reflective coating
Traditional reflective coatings use only solar reflectance. They lose effectiveness as surface reflectance drops over time. ICP™ products carry CRRC ratings too, but reflectance is one of three vectors, not the only one. For a side-by-side, see Cool Roof Coat vs Traditional Reflective Coatings.
Not an intumescent coating
Intumescent coatings swell and char when heated, building a sacrificial insulating layer above the substrate. Effective for structural steel under specific fire-engineering scenarios, but they require heat activation and are consumed by a single significant event. ICP™ does not swell and does not require heat activation; the underlying substrate is protected across multiple fire events when the coating system is maintained, with inspection and reapplication of any coating areas exposed to high-heat direct flame.
Not a cementitious fireproofing
Cementitious fireproofing applies a thick mineral-based layer that resists heat by mass and conductivity. Heavy, prone to cracking and flaking under vibration or thermal cycling, and difficult to apply to irregular substrates. ICP™ achieves a portion of the thermal protection at a fraction of the film thickness with a sprayable water-based application.
Not a fiberglass or mineral wool insulation
Traditional bulk insulation works by trapping air inside a fibrous matrix. Excellent thermal performance for new construction or accessible cavities, but generates respirable fibers, retains moisture leading to corrosion under insulation (CUI), and requires bulky support hardware. ICP™ is a coating, not a bulk material. It is applied directly to the substrate, contains no respirable fibers, and is the basis of the Insulative Coating System's CUI-resistance claims.
Products That Use ICP™
Cool Roof Coat
The flagship ICP™-based roof coating. Cuts HVAC energy use up to 50%, carries a 20-year NDL warranty, and was named to TIME Magazine's Best Inventions of 2024.
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Wildfire Shield
Wildfire-resistant coating for wooden infrastructure. ASTM-tested and deployed on state department-of-transportation infrastructure programs. Used on bridges, fencing, utility poles, and other timber lagging.
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Cool Touch (Insulative Coat)
Industrial thermal-barrier coating. Transforms 200°F+ surfaces into cool-to-touch zones. Tested to ISO 12944, ASTM C1857, NACE TM0143. Used in refineries, chemical processing, and energy production.
See the product
Standards & Independent Testing
ICP™ is not a single claim. It is a measured performance baseline carried across multiple independent test standards. Specific certifications differ by finished product; the standards below define the performance envelope for the additive itself.
ASTM C1857
Thermal performance of ceramic and ceramic-composite coatings. Defines the measurement methodology for thermal conductivity and emissivity values used in ICP™ product specs.
NACE TM0143
Corrosion under insulation (CUI) evaluation. The standard that the Insulative Coating System CUI-resistance claims are validated against.
ISO 12944
Corrosion protection of steel structures by paint systems. Defines the durability classification (C1–C5 / Im1–Im4) the industrial coating line is rated to.
ASTM D3746
Hail impact resistance. The standard behind Cool Roof Coat's 2-inch hail impact rating, relevant for buildings in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and the Colorado Front Range.
Finished products additionally carry CRRC (Cool Roof Rating Council), Title 24 (California energy code), ICC (International Code Council), Miami-Dade Florida Product Approval, ASHRAE 90.1, and IECC compliance where applicable to the cool-roof line. State department-of-transportation deployment applies to the fire-protective line.
Independent Recognition
ICP™ technology, through the Cool Roof Coat product, was named to TIME Magazine's Best Inventions of 2024. NanoTech Materials has additionally been recognized as one of Houston's Fastest Growing Scaleups and was a finalist for the 2024 Houston Innovation Awards. The technology has been featured in industry coverage of climate-resilient materials and energy-efficiency innovation.
Frequently Asked Questions About ICP™
What does ICP stand for?
How is ICP™ different from a traditional reflective coating?
Is ICP™ a coating or an additive?
What standards has ICP™ been tested to?
Is ICP™ safe for occupied spaces or sensitive equipment?
Can ICP™ be used in cold environments, not just hot ones?
Has ICP™ received any independent recognition?
Specify ICP™ on Your Next Project
Send us your project type (commercial roof, wildfire-defense infrastructure, or industrial process equipment) and the NanoTech technical team will recommend the right ICP™ product and pull the relevant test data, certifications, and case studies for your spec.