Does Aluminum Foil Really Create Hot Spots?

That's pretty much what I expected - no responces at all! Although I did put this in the wrong forum by accident!

1. No one has ever actually had a "Hot Spot" because they used aluminum foil?
2. No one can even explain why that is "supposed" to happen?

Hot Spots has always been a urban myth none the less why would you even want to use Aluminum Foil in the first place ?Because its cheaper?? Dude a gallon of flat white paint is pretty cheap too and has much better reflectivity than Aluminum foil. Aluminum has a lot less reflectivity than mylar or good ol' cheap flat white paint. Just my 2 cents

Originally Posted by BeaverHuntr

Hot Spots has always been a urban myth none the less why would you even want to use Aluminum Foil in the first place ?Because its cheaper?? Dude a gallon of flat white paint is pretty cheap too and has much better reflectivity than Aluminum foil. Aluminum has a lot less reflectivity than mylar or good ol' cheap flat white paint. Just my 2 cents

That's the only response needed.

Wow,,,been in the paint business for 35 years,,really you think flat paint is reflective,,,NOT !! the scale runs from flat ( o% reflective) satin some reflective,,,semi gloss..more ref. and gloss alot of ref.. high gloss,,,most ref. you can prove this easily...paint a board with all these types of sheen,,,shine a light on it,,,now you will see what ref. and what does not...flat paint absorbs light,,not reflect!

if you want to see how reflective alum. foil is,,,try this test,,,2 baking potatoes,,,wrap each in tin foil,,,but one shinny side out the other shinny side in,,,put in oven at rec. temp (325) wait an hour and remove them,,,shinny side out,,hard not cooked!! shinny side in,,cooked ready to eat! aluminum foil is a great as a reflector,,,but it also reflects heat,,where as a board painted with high gloss paint will reflect light but very little heat.

Originally Posted by wtxmale

Wow,,,been in the paint business for 35 years,,really you think flat paint is reflective,,,NOT !! the scale runs from flat ( o% reflective) satin some reflective,,,semi gloss..more ref. and gloss alot of ref.. high gloss,,,most ref. you can prove this easily...paint a board with all these types of sheen,,,shine a light on it,,,now you will see what ref. and what does not...flat paint absorbs light,,not reflect!

Material: Reflectivity: Mylar 90 – 98 % Foylon 92 - 95 % BW poly 85 - 90 % Flat white paint 60 - 90 % Mirror 82 - 87 % Glossy white paint 70 - 80 % Aluminium foil (flat side) 50 - 70 % Black paint < 10 %

Not true,,,need to check your facts...i've been in R&D with dow chem for 15 years now,,my main research has been in reflectivity of latex paint and how it affects light refraction.....latex flat paint is between 8 and 12 %...high gloss...72-80 %....aluminum foil shinny or refective side 93-98 % these are facts ...the main reason for using gloss white over aluminum is that gloss wht reflects light not heat,,,alum. foil reflects heat also.

By an absolute fluke or if intentionally made too. Other than that its like Beaver said. Poor reflection of the light waves plants use is why you do not want to use it, not the hotspot BS.

Heres an interesting read on light.....

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/light/u12l2c.cfm