Canadian Finishing & Coatings Manufacturing Magazine Jan/Feb 2023 - 34

INDUSTRIAL FINISHING: REFLECTIVE COATINGS
Sustainable Focus
PPG industry expert, Gary Edgar, explores the growing demand of reflective coating
technology in the architectural market
BY NOELLE STAPINSKY
T
he demand is growing for more sustainable and
energy-friendly solutions aimed at reducing carbon
footprints for the exterior and architectural market.
In fact, a recent AIA research report said that
the majority of architects with specification responsibilities
want to specify more sustainably in the future and see it as an
opportunity for growth. According to the research, 81 per cent
of architects consider the sustainability of a product related to
its use and installation, and 64 per cent of architects consider
sustainability most during the specification phase of a project.
Interestingly, manufacturer websites are the most-used form of
product sustainability research (82 per cent).
CFCM spoke with Gary Edgar, an exterior products expert for
PPG, about the growing demand and innovations in reflective
pigments on the market today.
Has there been a growth in demand for
sustainable coatings?
Gary Edgar: With nearly 30 years of experience in the business,
I can say with confidence that demand is growing. One of the
most important advancements in the sustainable coatings and
architectural industries is the development of cool coating
technologies that incorporate infrared (IR)-reflective pigments.
Have there been recent innovations or
advancements in this coating segment?
GE: In high-performance coatings for the building industry,
the source of these IR-reflective pigments is either inorganic
minerals like titanium dioxide or, more commonly, engineered
inorganic compounds. Compared to standard coatings with IR
pigments, what we call cool coatings, they have a higher degree
of solar reflectance and improved thermal emittance-how
quickly the substrate " sheds " sunlight and heat. The difference is
significant.
Commonly used on roofing, wall panels and other metal
building components, these advanced protective coatings lower
building temperatures and reduce the energy demands needed
for cooling.
What products does PPG provide and what are the
key benefits?
GE: PPG's flagship Duranar brand family of architectural
coatings include PPG Duranar ULTRA-Cool coatings and PPG
34
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Duranar VARI-Cool coatings. Both products feature PPG's IRreflective
pigments.
Duranar ULTRA-Cool is a two-coat system available in a
palette of light, medium and dark colours. It has outstanding
gloss and colour retention with exceptional film integrity, colour
fade and chalk resistance, plus strong corrosion resistance.
PPG Duranar VARI-Cool is a coil-formed polychromatic
coating that integrates PPG energy-saving ULTRA-Cool
technology with colour-shifting pigments that change with
lighting and viewing angles for unique and dramatic aesthetics.
This product is ideal for roof and building panels, curtain walls,
store fronts and accents.
How do colours reflect heat differently?
Sunlight and heat tend to reflect more off lighter surfaces while
darker surfaces tend to absorb them. This has huge implications
for
roofing.
But
advancements in IR-reflective
pigment
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Canadian Finishing & Coatings Manufacturing Magazine Jan/Feb 2023

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