From the University of Maryland a new method arrives to lower the internal heat of buildings, without using electricity, and ensure the well-being of occupants. As? Thanks to a new type of glass, called cooling glass.
The new technology allows the temperature of the underlying material to be reduced by 3,5 degrees Celsius, thanks to a particular microporous glass coating.
The properties of cooling glass
The coating is composed of a microporous structure of silicon dioxide, embedded with aluminum oxide nanoparticles. Such glass cooler operates in two modes:
- reflects up to 99% of solar radiation, a property that prevents buildings from overheating.
- It emits heat into space in the form of long-wave infrared radiation, through a phenomenon known as “radiative cooling”. This phenomenon uses space, where the temperature is generally around -270 degrees Celsius or just a few degrees above absolute zero, as a heat sink.
The new design of the cooling glass therefore allows large quantities of heat to be expelled into space, according to a process similar to that which allows the Earth to cool, especially on clear-sky evenings.
A green opportunity for the construction sector
Cooling glass therefore represents a revolutionary technology for the building sector. Improving the energy efficiency of buildings is in fact an essential principle to dictate a concrete turning point in the sector.
The new coating developed by the University of Maryland looks like stable from an environmental point of view, i.e. capable of tolerating changes in atmospheric, chemical and physical conditions, maintaining its properties and performance over time. The cooling glass is also able to withstand temperatures up to 1.000 degrees Celsius and environmental agents such as water, ultraviolet radiation, dirt and flames.
Finally, with the aim of broadening the target to embrace the entire glass industry, the cooling glass presents itself as a versatile and scalable coating, which can be applied to multiple surfaces, such as tiles, bricks and metals.
How is this material obtained? Through the use of finely ground glass particles (whose size is designed to maximize the emission of infrared heat) which are used as a binder.
The solution proposed by researchers at the University of Maryland can therefore mark a decisive change of pace in the fight against energy consumption and carbon emissions, to obtain an increasingly green and prepared for the enormous challenges associated with climate change.
Sources: today.umd.edu, dwmmag.com
