Chapter 13 - Roadmap for materials selection and energy saving coatings

Abstract

For industrial utilization the selection and implementation of energy efficient materials is essential. Mostly the energy efficient coatings and materials are employed after accomplishment of key manufacturing process for example, energy saving window film coated through lamination process, heat regulating materials are coated in construction industry and buildings through improved paint additives. In glass coating process for automobile and buildings, the flexible heat regulating plastic sheet or film adhere to the glass substrate to improve cooling and heat rejection functionality without affecting the key esthetic. In tropical climate regions, hot and humid weather, the heat reflecting films laminated , which are capable of effective transmission of the visible light, contrary in cold weather regions, heat absorbing or regulating films are employed to keep the buildings much warmer. Metal-based multilayer coatings utilized to allow 70%–80% visible transmittance and ∼75% infrared light reflectivity. For the industrial implementation of multilayered heat regulating coatings the certain selection criteria is important. The coating should be consistently homogeneous on the large substrate with high throughputs. The cost effective way to develop such coatings is to use the roll-to-roll sputtering deposition techniques. The industrial roll-to-roll process is effective to coat up to 1–2 meter wide flexible substrate, for example, Kobe Steel roll to roll process can yield coatings on 0.30–1.6 m wide substrate. Other heat regulating film manufacture are 3M, Saint Gobain, AGC, Pilkington, Cool N Lite films, Window Film, LLumar, etc. Most of the mentioned companies fabricate customize energy saving films for blocking IR and UV radiations and allow visible region. Low emissivity multilayered sputter coated films has been implemented for industrial usage due to their excellent optical performance, low emissivity, heat radiation control and affordability. These coatings are efficient to reduce emissivity and heat gain and widely employed in building and automotive industry. In-addition, these energy saving films are effectively capable to reduce glare and in blocking the UVA and UVB radiations which causes fading and skin damage. Energy Saving Coating Materials: Design, Process, Implementation and Developments provides comprehensive information about recent materials advancements, design aspects and integration for infra-red radiation regulators as well as highlights the future development of zero emission buildings. This book presents recent developments of innovative technologies comprising energy saving materials and coatings, which are key consideration to achieve the vital energy saving milestones worldwide.