Alesta® Cool from DuPont CoatingSolutions

March 6, 2012 - PRLog -- When it comes to colouring of claddings, roofs or gates, architects traditionally use white or lighter colours. This is to reduce internal temperatures or to avoid thermal expansion of substrates. The innovative Alesta® Cool has been developed by DuPont CoatingSolutions to put an end to this creative limitation. The new polyester-based powder coatings increase the solar reflectance of dark colours up to 20% and allow for entirely new perspectives on designing objects.

The colour of an object exposed to sunlight influences the temperature which will be reached on its surface and inside significantly. An important factor there is the infrared radiation. This invisible light makes for around 50% of the sun’s energy reaching the surface of the earth. Dark colours absorb infrared radiation differently than light shades. That’s the reason why white or light coloured surfaces which are exposed to sunlight show a lower temperature increase. Therefore these shades are commonly favoured for colouring claddings, roofs, sunblinds, garden and urban furniture and any other product exposed to direct sunlight. From a physical and energetic view this makes sense, but it is a creative limitation.

Black as cool as white
Alesta® Cool is an innovative development in powder coatings from DuPont CoatingSolutions that changes the way to look at building colours. It increases the infrared reflection of dark colours dramatically. Alesta® Cool is able to enhance the Total Solar Reflection (TSR) rate up to 20%, and even a thin layer can improve the reflectance value significantly. A surface coated with Alesta® Cool black (RAL 9005) shows the same properties as one coated with standard powder coatings in white (RAL 9010).
Alesta® Cool powder coatings can reduce the surface temperature by 20%. This leads to appreciable lower internal temperatures of buildings. Thus, the energy consumption of air conditioning system can be reduced significantly as well as pollution emissions. Additionally the enhanced reflectance reduces the global warming and supports climate protection.

Less mechanical stress and high UV-resistance
The benefits of Alesta® Cool are not just limited to heat. Reducing the differences in temperature within the object decreases the mechanical stress acting on the metal. Thermal expansion of metal substrates can be reduced by 25% which leads to dramatically enhanced product lifetime. The high UV-resistance ensures that gloss level and colour of the coated surface will be brilliant even after many years.

Versatility in colours and easy to handle
The new Alesta® Cool powder coatings are available in different popular dark RAL colours, ranging from claret, blue, green, brown and grey shades to black. They allow for many gloss levels and structures: from high gloss, semi gloss to matt, from smooth to structured surfaces. Alesta® Cool powder coatings are appoved according to GSB and Qualicoat. The new powder coatings with improved reflectance values are as easy and as economical to apply as any standard powder coating.

For further information please refer to http://www.coatingsolutions.dupont.com/alesta-cool.

DuPont™ and Alesta® are trademarks of DuPont.  

About DuPont
DuPont  has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. www.dupont.com

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DuPont CoatingSolutions offers industrial coatings and automotive paint - such as powder, liquid, and electro deposition coatings - for all application areas, surfaces and substrates.
For further information please refer to http://www.coatingsolutions.dupont.com.