This reflective paint could keep sunbaked buildings cool
Its structure deflects nearly all incoming sunlight
A new polymer-based paint that reflects nearly all incoming sunlight could help keep buildings, cars, airplanes and other sunbaked structures cool.
This polymer paint, described online September 27 in Science, can be applied to various surfaces, including plastics, metals and wood. It also could be fashioned into recyclable tarpaulins for covering homes, cars or other enclosed spaces.
Materials scientist Yuan Yang of Columbia University and colleagues made the heat-resistant paint using water, acetone and a polymer called poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene). When the paint dries, the evaporated acetone and water leave behind a polymer film riddled with air pockets. These tiny cavities, ranging from hundreds of nanometers to several micrometers across, reflect more than 96 percent of incoming sunlight. Other cool-roof white paints have been able to deflect only about 85 percent of sunshine.