With concerns over the heat island effect in large cities and the general need to reduce energy consumption, there has been an increasing focus on colorants that utilize materials that reflect infrared wavelengths to reduce heat build. In addition, many countries are beginning to enact regulations to reduce energy consumption through the use of “cool” coatings. To meet these new requirements, coatings formulators are looking for the tools to support their development.
It is known that our Sun is the primary source of infrared energy. As these wavelengths are absorbed by any exterior surface, the surface becomes increasingly warmer. With black surfaces, the surface can be hot enough to burn skin. A black asphalt road at the peak of a bright summer day is hot because the dark color does not reflect the infrared radiation from the Sun away from its surface. In addition, this effect on a building’s dark-colored roof leads to warmer interior temperatures. In buildings without air conditioning, temperatures can be fatal. In buildings with air conditioning, the cost to cool interior space increases.