New Solutions
Conserve Energy with Solar Reflective Coatings
Cool roof coatings that reflect the sun’s light can help reduce the cost of cooling buildings in warm climates. Coatings incorporating 3M™ Glass Bubbles can reflect solar energy more efficiently, and coated surfaces can give up heat more easily – enabling cooler spaces and higher energy savings
Technical Study
An evaluation of glass bubbles for solar heat reflection in waterborne acrylic elastomeric roof coatings.
This study examines the effect of 3M glass bubbles on several key properties of a typical “cool roof” coating. Three different grades of 3M glass bubbles were evaluated in comparison to calcium carbonate and a commercial solid microsphere blend in a 100% acrylic elastomeric latex system.
The results indicate that formulations incorporating 3M glass bubbles achieve higher overall solar reflectance, lower calculated roof surface temperatures, and greater potential energy savings than conventional fillers.
Benefits of 3M™ Glass Bubbles
The hollow structure and spherical shape of 3M glass bubbles efficiently scatter light, providing unique optical benefits
Total solar reflectance (TSR)
Formulations incorporating 3M glass bubbles averaged 3–6% higher TSR values than the other samples tested
Thermal emissivity
Glass bubble-filled coatings provide comparable emissivity to other formulations
Spectral distribution
3M glass bubbles perform well across the entire solar spectrum, especially in visible and near IR regions – which together account for 96% of the sun’s radiation
Appearance
3M glass bubbles provide a brighter, whiter initial appearance than CaCO3 or a commercial microsphere blend
Low density
3M glass bubbles offer a lower density alternative to conventional fillers
Thermal benefits
3M glass bubbles have low thermal conductivity, helping reduce heat buildup
Thermal benefits
Formulations with 3M glass bubbles exhibited good gloss retention and minimal color change when exposed to accelerated weathering
Dirt Pickup Resistance (DPUR)
Glass bubble-filled coatings provide comparable DPUR to other formulations
Findings
Paints made with glass bubbles offered the highest degree of potential energy savings based on the fillers studied in this experiement
3M™ Glass Bubbles offer excellent overall total solar reflectivity.
The smallest grade exhibited the best TSR at all wavelengths.
Solar Reflectance Index Results
3M™ Glass Bubbles offer excellent overall total solar reflectivity.
The smallest grade exhibited the best TSR at all wavelengths.
IR Heat Lamp Test Results
Used to simulate the coating’s effect on the inside of a building, the infrared lamp test indicates that 3M™ Glass Bubbles may enable cooler indoor environments
| GB1 = K1 GB2 = S22 GB3 = iM16K |
3M Advanced Materials
When you’re designing products to outpace the competition, you need materials with properties that go beyond the ordinary. 3M’s extensive portfolio of advanced materials are uniquely suited to survive and perform in many of today’s most challenging applications and environments – from deep in the earth to the depths of space. Every day, we use these technologies to help customers in automotive, nuclear power, plastics processing, oil and gas, defense and many other industries find new ways to turn “what’s possible” into “what’s next.”
Do you need help?
Our Regional Coating Innovation Center is the ideal place to get support. Our technical team can help you to test existing formulations and find new solutions. Send us a quick message and our experienced technicians will get directly in touch with you.
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