SOLAR HEAT REFLECTIVE AND HEAT ABSORPTIVE NANOPARTICLES FOR HOT/COOL HARD NANOCOATINGS

Abstract

Nanotechnology today is widely used in many industries due to the many properties it provides and enhances when applied. The building and construction industry is one which is able to tap on the success of nanotechnology as its application can greatly enhance the properties of materials used for the industry. Buildings which consumes a large percentage of energy globally contributes to the largest amount of greenhouse gases which in turns lead to global warming. By reducing the amount of energy consumed by each building, we will be able to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions as carbon dioxide are emitted as a by product when producing energy. Incorporating nanotechnology to building façade surface finishes, we are able to reduce the heat of buildings, both externally and internally, making the building cooler and hence reducing the amount of energy required for cooling. This is especially useful for cities which experience the Urban Heat Island effect and countries which experience a tropical climate throughout the year as air conditioning plays a huge part in cooling buildings and it uses a large percentage of energy. In this study, 25 nanoparticles will be tested with suitable binders for their thermal properties. Surface temperature of hard glass nanocoatings will be tested using a thermal imager as well as a thermocouple thermometer. The nanocoatings will be ranked based on their thermal properties. The morphologies of the nanoparticles will also be studied using SEM/TEM. This study aim to identify potential cool coatings that will aid in building surface finishes to help reduce heat gained and to reduce the overall energy consumption of buildings.