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Thesis (B.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of General Science, 1931.Includes bibliographical references (leaf 47).Preface: The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the insulation properties of aluminium foil. The use of aluminium foil as a heat insulator though used in the British Isles and on the continent particularly in Germany where it was first developed commercially, is comparatively unknown in this country. This is due to two principal reasons. First, a psychological one, namely the natural inertia of the users of heat insulating materials to adopt any new material which differs radically both in action and appearance to the common insulating materials on the market. The second reason, a practical one is that there is little knowledge of its insulation value in this country. Practically all of the data on aluminium foil as insulation has heretofore come almost entirely from German sources. This is undoubtedly an additional reason why insulation users shy at the use of aluminium foil. To meet this condition this thesis was undertaken at the suggestion of the Alfol Insulation Company, Inc., which holds the American rights to the original German patents.