A new approach to optimizing pigmented coatings considering both thermal and aesthetic effects

Pigmented coatings with high reflectivity against solar irradiation can be used to control unwanted thermal heating that occurs as materials absorb sunlight such as heat in buildings that increases cooling loads. However, these surfaces produce glare that is unpleasant to the eye, and the coatings themselves can damage the appearance of the coated object. We introduce a new optimization method that embraces both thermal and aesthetic requirements. Our proposed coatings maximize the reflectivity of the near infrared (NIR) region to reduce thermal heating, while for aesthetic appeal they also minimize the visible (VIS) reflected energy received by human eyes, especially at wavelengths where eye sensitivity is high. The optimization parameter is defined as the ratio of the total reflected energy in the NIR region to that in the VIS region weighted by human eye sensitivity. Titanium dioxide is used as the pigment, and databases of its radiative properties are constructed using the Mie theory. To compute reflectivity, nongray radiative heat transfer in an anisotropic scattering monosized pigmented layer, with independent scattering, including direct and diffuse solar irradiations, is analyzed using radiation element method by ray emission model (REM2). Colors are calculated and optimization parameter is evaluated by using spectral reflectivity. Finally, the optimum values of particle size, volume fraction of pigment, and coating thickness are obtained.