Authors:

Katherine Raykova

Date Created:

Not specified

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About Paper:

According to the US Department of Energy, air conditioners consume 6% of the electricity produced in the United States and release 117 million metric tons of CO¬¬2 annually. Radiative cooling paints have the potential to reduce this energy consumption and CO¬¬2 emission by offering a possible passive cooling method for buildings. However, natural weathering and soiling have been shown to diminish the paint's effectiveness and energy savings over time. This study analyzes the performance of a proposed self-cleaning hydrophobic binder, as an alternative to existing commercial binders like acrylic. UV-Vis spectroscopy and a preliminary UV weathering test were conducted on three paint samples formulated with the proposed binder and the pigment hBN, which has previously been able to achieve full daytime sub-ambient cooling in an acrylic-based formulation. FT-IR spectroscopy was then conducted on three additional hBN paint samples to study the binder's performance in the infrared range. Paints formulated with this binder achieved ultra-high reflectance of up to 97.5% in the solar spectral range and show promise in maintaining this optical performance after long term exposure to solar irradiation. The FT-IR results on the paint show high emissivity, which is favorable in the radiative cooling mechanism of emitting heat to deep space (through the sky window). Ongoing and future work includes outdoor, extended weathering, and abrasion testing to provide a comprehensive examination of the proposed binder's durability and sub-ambient cooling capabilities.

Source:

Purdue University / 2023

Topics:

No topics listed

Co-authors:

Katherine Raykova