Editing Radiant barrier (section)

==Applications==
===Space exploration===
For the [[Apollo program]], NASA helped develop a thin aluminum foil that reflected 95% of the radiant heat.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/Spinoff2006/ch_9.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202131218/http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/Spinoff2006/ch_9.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-02-02|title=Technology Transfer|last=Hall|first=Loura|date=2016-09-15|work=NASA|access-date=2018-04-13|language=en}}</ref> A metalized film was used to protect spacecraft, equipment, and astronauts from thermal radiation or to retain heat in the extreme temperature fluctuations of space.<ref name=":1" /> The aluminum was vacuum-coated to a thin film and applied to the base of the Apollo landing vehicles. It was also used in numerous other NASA projects like the [[James Webb Space Telescope]] and [[Skylab]]. In the vacuum of [[outer space]], where temperatures can range from {{convert|-400|to|250|F|-1}}<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/Spinoff2004/ch_6.html|title=Technology Transfer|last=Hall|first=Loura|date=2016-09-15|work=NASA|access-date=2018-04-13|language=en|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050106195834/http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/Spinoff2004/ch_6.html |archivedate=6 January 2005 }}</ref> heat transfer is only by radiation, so a radiant barrier is much more effective than it is on earth, where 5% to 45% of the heat transfer can still occur via convection and conduction, even when an effective radiant barrier is deployed. Radiant barrier<ref name=":2" /> is a [[Space Foundation]] Certified Space Technology(TM). Radiant barrier was inducted into the [[Space Technology Hall of Fame]] in 1996.

===Textiles===
Since the 1970s,<ref name=":1" /> sheets of metalized polyester called [[space blanket]]s have been commercially available as a means to prevent hypothermia and other cold weather injuries. Because of their durability and light weight, these blankets are popular for survival and first aid applications. Swarms of people can be seen draped in reflective metalized film after a marathon, especially where the temperatures are particularly cold, like during the annual [[New York City Marathon]] which takes place in the fall.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/02/sports/lightweight-blankets-with-a-big-footprint-at-the-marathon.html?_r=0|newspaper=New York Times|date=1 November 2015|last=Cacciola|first=Scott|title=Lightweight Blankets With a Big Footprint at the Marathon|accessdate=13 February 2016}}</ref>

===Window treatments===
Window glass can be coated to achieve [[low emissivity]] or "low-e". Some windows use laminate polyester film where at least one layer has been metalized using a process called [[sputtering]]. Sputtering occurs when a metal, most often aluminum, is vaporized and the polyester film is passed through it. This process can be adjusted to control the amount of metal that ultimately coats the surface of the film.

These metalized films are applied to one or more surfaces of the glass to resist the transfer of radiant heat, yet the films are so thin that they allow visible light to pass through. Since the thin coatings are fragile and can be damaged when exposed to air and moisture, manufacturers typically use multiple pane windows. While films are typically applied to the glass during manufacturing, some films may be available for homeowners to apply themselves. Homeowner-applied window films are typically expected to last 10–15 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/windows_doors_skylights/index.cfm/mytopic=13430|title=Energy Saver {{!}} Department of Energy|website=www.energysavers.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-04-13|archive-date=2012-07-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722093009/http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/windows_doors_skylights/index.cfm/mytopic=13430|url-status=dead}}</ref>