Key points about the paint
- Developed by Xiulin Ruan, a professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue University.
- Made from barium sulfate particles of various sizes.
- The paint reflects 98.1 percent of solar radiation.
- It is 2.5 times thinner and 80% lighter than the original version.
- This new white paint has the potential to be used in a variety of applications, including cooling buildings, reducing the urban heat island effect, and improving the efficiency of solar panels.
Details
A team of researchers at Purdue University has created the world’s whitest paint, which reflects 98.1 percent of solar radiation. The paint is made of barium sulfate particles of various sizes, which scatter different wavelengths of solar radiation. This means that the paint cools a surface below the surrounding temperature.
Lighter version
The team has also developed a lighter version of the paint that can work on vehicles. This version of the paint reflects 97.9 percent of solar radiation and is 2.5 times thinner and 80% lighter than the original version.
The researchers are still working on commercializing the paint, but they believe that it has the potential to be used in a variety of applications, including cooling buildings, reducing the urban heat island effect, and improving the efficiency of solar panels.
Vantablack
On the other hand, Vantablack, known for absorbing a high percentage of light, creates a matte black appearance that diminishes surface details and provides a nearly two-dimensional look. The use of Vantablack by BMW to camouflage a vehicle at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show was an intriguing application of the technology. It’s interesting to see how these advanced paint technologies can be utilized in the automotive industry to create unique visual effects and enhance designs.
Whitest paint
These developments in paint technology demonstrate the potential for innovative materials to have a significant impact across various industries, from addressing global warming to providing new aesthetic possibilities.
BMW X6 gets Vantablack shade
Conclusion
The world’s whitest paint has the potential to be used in a variety of applications, including cooling buildings, reducing the urban heat island effect, and improving the efficiency of solar panels.
The paint is made of barium sulfate particles of various sizes, which scatter different wavelengths of solar radiation. This means that the paint cools a surface below the surrounding temperature.
The researchers are still working on commercializing the paint, but they believe that it has the potential to make a significant impact on the way we cool our buildings and reduce our energy consumption.
Here are some of the benefits of the world’s whitest paint
- It can cool buildings by up to 8 degrees Fahrenheit.
- The paint can reduce the urban heat island effect.
- The new paint helps tp improve the efficiency of solar panels.
- It is made of a sustainable material.
The world’s whitest paint is a promising new technology that has the potential to make a positive impact on the environment. I am excited to see how this technology develops in the future.
Photos credits Purdue University image/Joseph Peoples, Purdue University photo/John Underwood, and Purdue University photo/Jared Pike