MOSCOW, September 6. An innovative roof covering was developed by SFU researchers as part of an international team. According to scientists, it will help protect the roof from dampness, rain and the harmful effects of sunlight on the roofing material. The coating will also provide good thermal insulation, which will reduce energy consumption to maintain a comfortable microclimate in residential premises. The results were published in the New Journal of Chemistry.
On average, temperatures in cities are several degrees higher than in surrounding rural areas. This is explained by the absorption of solar radiation in the near-infrared range: an excessive number of buildings creates a “trap” for sunlight. The greatest amount of thermal radiation is attracted by shiny, most often iron roofs, said scientists from the Southern Federal University (SFU).
Iron roofing is also subject to sudden temperature changes, rusts when exposed to excess air humidity and does not effectively isolate the room from the street and maintain a comfortable microclimate inside. Depending on the season, people use electricity to heat or cool their spaces. Researchers around the world are working to create more environmentally friendly and efficient roofing solutions.
Scientists from the Southern Federal University (SFU) and colleagues from India and Egypt have created a composite for covering iron roofs based on compounds of bismuth, vanadium and zirconium (BiVO4/ZrO2), which reflects more than half of the sun's rays in the near-infrared region. In this case, only the surface of the roof is heated, and the temperature of the inside of the roof is maintained 12 degrees lower.
““The material we offer not only helps lower the average temperature in the city, but also increases the wear resistance of the roof itself: applying the composite slows down the oxidation reaction of iron with the formation of rust,” said a senior researcher at the International Youth Laboratory “Green” intelligent nanomaterials: nature-like synthesis for global sustainable development» SFU Aslam Hossain.
In addition to the environmental effects, applying a composite to the roof can also have a significant economic impact on roof maintenance — it will require repairs less frequently and will need to be replaced after a longer period of use, the scientist added.
In the future, the researchers they plan to improve the reflective characteristics of the resulting material and conduct experiments using real-scale objects.
SFU is a participant in the state program for supporting universities «Priority 2030»