Why in the News?

Researchers from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) have developed a radiative cooling paint, which is specifically engineered to cool structures like buildings, pavers, and tiles in hot weather conditions.

What is Radiative Cooling Paint?

• Material Composition: Radiative Cooling Paint is composed of a mix of magnesium oxide (MgO) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), derived from easily accessible, cost-effective, and safe materials.
• The optimized MgO-PVDF with dielectric nanoparticles resulted in a large solar reflectance of 96.3% and a record high thermal emission of 98.5% due to Mg?O bond vibrations, and other stretching/bonding vibrations from the polymer.
• Cooling Mechanism: This paint stands out not only for its appearance but for its function.
• It reflects nearly all of the sun's heat and emits a significant amount of its heat, effectively maintaining cooler surfaces.
• Heat Management: Tailored for hot climates, it efficiently reduces the need for excessive electricity use to cool buildings during sweltering days.
• Temperature Reduction: Once applied, it notably lowers surface temperatures by approximately 10 degrees under intense sunlight, surpassing the performance of regular white paint.
• Application Ease: Additionally, it showcases water-resistant properties and excellent adhesion to various surfaces, simplifying the application process on structures like walls and roofs.