What Is Thermal Barrier Paint?
Thermal barrier paint is a type of heat shielding paint primarily used to reduce temperature increases caused by sunlight-generated heat. It operates through a different mechanism compared to light-reflecting paint.
Thermal barrier paints are applied to the exterior walls of buildings to prevent heat from entering from the outside. However, in this case, dirt on the painted surface may reduce sunlight reflectivity, and the reflected light might affect the surrounding environment.
Thermal barrier paint functions by converting solar energy into kinetic, thereby mitigating heat. Heat reducing paint is an environmentally friendly paint as it neither reflects sunlight nor significantly impacts the surrounding environment.
Uses of Thermal Barrier Paint
Thermal barrier paint is an excellent paint for both heat shielding and environmental impact. For this reason, they are often used on buildings and facilities that require heat shielding.
Primarily, they are used on roofs and exterior walls of ordinary houses and buildings. Additionally, it is also used on asphalt sidewalks, tennis courts, soccer fields, school grounds, roofs of agricultural plastic greenhouses, pool sides, and children’s playground equipment. Another use is ready-mixed concrete truck drums.
Principle of Thermal Barrier Paint
Thermal barrier paint contains substances that convert light energy into kinetic energy (heat reducing substances). Sunlight is a collection of light of various wavelengths, of which heat exchange materials respond to light in the visible to infrared regions. When sunlight hits the thermal barrier paint, the heat reducing substances react to light in the visible to infrared region, causing the heat reducing substances inside the paint to vibrate. At this point, the solar energy is converted into the kinetic energy of the heat exchanger material. This kinetic energy is consumed as the heat exchanger material moves. In other words, almost all the light energy can be consumed inside the paint.
Thermal barrier paint does not work in winter (5°C to 25°C). In other words, thermal barrier paint allows solar energy from the outside to enter the building during winter, thus reducing the need for heating equipment and saving energy. Ordinary thermal barrier paints reflect sunlight even in winter, so this energy-saving effect cannot be achieved. From this point of view, heat reducing paint is a nature-friendly paint.
Characteristics of Thermal Barrier Paint
Thermal barrier paint has six advantages:
1. Low Impact on the Surrounding Environment
Thermal barrier paint does not cause heat damage to the surrounding environment because it does not reflect light. It does not contribute to the urban heat island effect.
2. Resistance to Chalking
Chalking is a phenomenon in which the surface of an exterior wall blows a white powder due to self-disintegration. When touched by hand, the chalk-like white powder adheres to the surface. Chalking is caused by the photocatalytic action of titanium dioxide in the paint, but thermal barrier paint has properties that delay the occurrence of chalking.
3. Dirt Does Not Affect the Paint
Thermal barrier paint, which utilizes light reflection, loses its heat-blocking effect when soiled.
4. Suppression of Radiant Heat
Radiant heat is heat transmitted by infrared rays, and it is radiant heat that heats the interior of a building. Thermal barrier paint reduces the rise in room temperature and improves the efficiency of air conditioning.
5. Improving the Durability of Building Components
When applied with thermal barrier paint, it also reduces the temperature rise of painted components, contributing to improved durability of roofing and other materials.
6. Heat Retention Effect
Thermal barrier paint is effective from 25 degrees Celsius or higher, so heat is not lost during the winter. Thermal barrier paints that use light reflection reflect heat even in winter, which can increase heating costs.