Nanoparticles-modified polymer-based solar-reflective coating as a cooling overlay for asphalt pavement

Abstract

The phenomenon of rutting is one of the most serious problems on asphalt pavements. Decreasing the surface temperature of the asphalt pavement is an effective method to solve the rutting problem on asphalt pavements. In this study, a nano-sized-particles-filled polymer composite was developed as an overlay to reflect solar energy and decrease the surface temperature of asphalt pavements. The overlay was composed of acrylic or epoxy resin filled with nano TiO₂ or nano TiNO₂. The solar reflection of the nanoparticle-filled polymers was tested, and the results showed that solar reflection effectiveness of the TiO₂/acrylic composite reached the highest value. The results of outdoor temperature tests indicate that the solar-reflective overlay could decrease the surface temperature of asphalt pavements by about 10°C when the pavement temperature is about 60°C.

Keywords:

• solar reflective
• nanoparticles
• polymer
• overlay
• asphalt pavement

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the project (HIT. NSRIF. 2009100) of Natural Scientific Research Innovation Foundation in Harbin Institute of Technology and Project (HIT.KLOF.2009105) of Key Laboratory Opening Funding of Special Materials Lab on Transportation Safety and project of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (no. 20110491065).