AMSTERDAM—Nouryon, formerly AkzoNobel specialty chemicals, is launching a new solution for the building and construction market that it says boosts the effectiveness of energy-saving "cool roof" coatings.
The new concept improves the product's ability to reflect light and enhances its self-cleaning properties by combining Nouryon's Expancel expandable thermoplastic microspheres—which reflect light—and its Levasil colloidal silica.
The use of reflective cool roof coatings is on the rise in warmer climates, where they help to reduce the need for air conditioning and in turn reduce energy consumption.
According to Nouryon, cool roof coatings with Expancel microspheres can bring down the external surface temperature of a building by as much as 15°c.
"In addition to temperature reduction, it's also important that the coating adheres well to the roof surface and expands and contracts with it as temperature levels change," said Patrick Wilhelm, vice president of Colloidal Silica at Nouryon.
The combination of the Expancel with colloidal silica improves the adherence and mechanical properties of the coating without sacrificing elasticity and flexibility, he added.
Nouryon has already launched the product in Asia, Europe and Mexico where it has received "nothing but positive feedback" from customers, according to Wilhelm.
The Dutch supplier is offering the technology to customers in the U.S., teaming up with distributor CoadTech–Cool Additives Technology.