Traditional dark coatings on roofs, car interiors and other exposed surfaces absorb heat to unbearable levels. This extreme heat leads to product failures, increased energy costs – even dangerous conditions for workers, children and animals.

Since dark surfaces naturally absorb incident sunlight and convert it into heat, it may seem like the only solution is to use lighter-colored surfaces to reflect the incoming energy. But you’ll be surprised to learn that innovative coating pigments have been developed, making it possible for dark surfaces to heat far less despite their color.

Often called “cool paints,” these pigments are designed to provide a specific color in the visible light range while reflecting incident light in the near-infrared (NIR) range of the spectrum. Depending on the pigment selected, between 30 to 45 percent of the total incident solar radiation gets reflected back into space, compared to just 5 percent for carbon black, the standard black pigments. The lower amount of absorbed energy means surfaces stay cooler, up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit in some applications. Since these new pigments still swallow up the visible light completely, to the human eye, their appearance remains dark, and that’s pretty cool.

Cool paints can even lead to a reduction in the dangerous environmental phenomenon known as the Urban Heat Island effect. The Urban Heat Island effect happens in urban areas where black roofs, asphalt and buildings absorb more heat than the surrounding landscape, leading to a harmful cycle of higher temperatures, smog, and increased energy demands.

There are hundreds of uses for cool paint pigments on coil coated metal. From cool roofs, overseas shipping containers, building facades, and more, metals prepainted with cool coatings are helping to reduce energy costs, increase product lifecycles, and increase comfort.