Reducing heat transfer of aluminum brackets

[denso1985]

I perform testing in extreme cold temperatures (-20 degrees C). I use a camera to take video of my experiments and everytime we perform a test, I have to go into the chamber and fix the brackets my camera is mounted on to get the focus right (often takes a total time of 45-60 min inside chamber).

We have to touch the aluminum brackets A LOT (which are very cold) and it takes up time when we have to warm up our hands every 10 minutes because they are cold. I was wondering if there are any cheap spray on coatings to apply to aluminum that would reduce the amount of heat that the brackets are absorbing?

Can anyone give me a clue if this is possible or suggest another easily machineable material with a low heat transfer coefficient???

 

[btrueblood]

Titanium has a much lower thermal conductivity. Plastics are lower yet, but you will need to pick one that has the strength and stiffness that you are used to from the aluminum brackets, and also that doesn't become brittle at -20 C.

 

[IRstuff]

Home Depot sells a liquid vinyl for coating tool handles. While it might not last particularly long, you could certainly re-apply it every so often. Something like:

http://www.repair-it-all.com/dipandgrip.html

TTFN

 

[sreid]

Is wearing gloves out of the question?

 

[MintJulep]

Silicon - as commonly used on rollers - should do the trick.

But really, -20C isn't all that cold, can't you just be a man?

 

[denso1985]

gloves obviously aren't an option.

and touching metal soaked in cold air for an hour IS cold. its also a company policy that we cant stay in there for more than 15 minutes.