GNS Science and Resene Paints have teamed up to develop a high-tech roof paint containing nanoparticles that will be more effective than existing coating products at reflecting summer heat and keeping buildings cooler in summer.
The joint project will develop a new low-cost way of producing a powder containing metal oxide nanoparticles that can be incorporated with existing paint manufacturing methods. Once the technology is perfected for roof coatings, it is likely to be available for other applications such as marine and automotive coating products, said project leader John Kennedy of GNS Science.
The project has received Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment funding of $450,000-a-year for two years to help establish New Zealand as a leader in 'cool coating technology'. Resene is contributing $100,000 in 'in-kind' support.
GNS Science has designed and built a prototype chamber that produces the reflective powder containing metallic oxide nanoparticles. Quantities produced are small, but enough to allow continued development of the technology.
