AkzoNobel launches "sun protection" coating system on the market

The innovative technology from AkzoNobel's Decorative Paints division consists of a radiative cooling topcoat and a radiant heat barrier in the middle layer and acts as a sunscreen. It means that the surface temperature of buildings can be reduced by up to 10% in hot summer months compared to conventional coatings. With the passive radiative cooling that the system uses, the heat lost through thermal radiation is released into space. It is expected to significantly improve energy-saving performance - particularly in the renovation of existing buildings - and has already been successfully tested on several buildings in the Lingang section of the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone in China. "This is a major breakthrough in decorative paints and opens up new avenues for energy-efficient building renovations," said Karen Yin, Director of Decorative Paints China North Asia and President of AkzoNobel China. "Our goal is to provide consumers with a safer, more sustainable and comfortable living environment while contributing to China's dual carbon policy, which is aimed at controlling both total carbon emissions and carbon emission intensity."

AkzoNobel "Cool Coating" coating does not heat up

The middle coating uses advanced aerogel insulating materials that have extremely low thermal conductivity, effectively preventing the transfer and penetration of heat. The top layer is an improved version of heat-reflective coatings, offering higher reflectivity to further reduce the absorption of solar heat. It also has a high thermal emittance, so it emits heat directly to the atmosphere and mitigates the effects of the urban heat island. Both coatings are low-VOC and completely water-based. Yin adds: "The science behind these 'cooling coatings' may be complex, but the effect is easy to explain. A 'normal' exterior coating heats up in the sun because it still absorbs some sunlight. A heat-reflective coating heats up less because it absorbs less sunlight. Our new cooling coatings do not heat up at all because they absorb hardly any sunlight and radiate heat efficiently. With the built environment estimated to be responsible for around 40% of annual global carbon emissions, the technology has the potential to redefine urban cooling in hot climates and encourage the creation of more sustainable buildings.