(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2014/0370242 A1 Constantz Et Al
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US 20140370242A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2014/0370242 A1 Constantz et al. (43) Pub. Date: Dec. 18, 2014 (54) HIGHLY REFLECTIVE Publication Classification MCROCRYSTALLINE/AMORPHOUS MATERIALS, AND METHODS FOR MAKING (51) Int. C. AND USING THE SAME GO2B5/08 (2006.01) E4D 7/00 (2006.01) (71) Applicant: Blue Planet, LTD., Los Gatos, CA (US) (52) U.S. C. CPC ............ G02B5/0808 (2013.01); G02B5/0891 (72) Inventors: Brent R. Constantz, Portola Valley, CA (2013.01); E04D 77005 (2013.01) (US); Chris Camire, Morgan Hill, CA USPC ............ 428/143; 252/582: 252/587; 252/588 (US) (21) Appl. No.: 14/214,130 (57) ABSTRACT Compositions comprising highly reflective microcrystalline/ (22) Filed: Mar 14, 2014 amorphous materials are provided. In some instances, the highly reflective materials are microcrystalline or amorphous Related U.S. Application Data carbonate materials, which may include calcium and/or mag (60) Provisional application No. 61/943,992, filed on Feb. nesium carbonate. In some instances, the materials are CO 24, 2014, provisional application No. 61/866,985, sequestering materials. Also provided are methods of making filed on Aug. 16, 2013, provisional application No. and using the compositions, e.g., to increase the albedo of a 61/793,661, filed on Mar. 15, 2013. Surface, to mitigate urban heat island effects, etc. Patent Application Publication Dec. 18, 2014 Sheet 1 of 13 US 2014/0370242 A1 OZ Patent Application Publication Dec. 18, 2014 Sheet 2 of 13 US 2014/0370242 A1 Patent Application Publication Dec. 18, 2014 Sheet 3 of 13 US 2014/0370242 A1 Patent Application Publication Dec. 18, 2014 Sheet 4 of 13 US 2014/0370242 A1 009Z00LZ006||00/.#00??002 SX|00|qanbedo“pepues eueoeye Patent Application Publication Dec. 18, 2014 Sheet 6 of 13 US 2014/0370242 A1 009Z009.Z00LZ006||00/},009??.00/ eoue3ege Patent Application Publication Dec. 18, 2014 Sheet 7 of 13 US 2014/0370242 A1 Patent Application Publication Dec. 18, 2014 Sheet 8 of 13 US 2014/0370242 A1 Patent Application Publication Dec. 18, 2014 Sheet 9 of 13 US 2014/0370242 A1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3uebae egos Patent Application Publication Dec. 18, 2014 Sheet 10 of 13 US 2014/0370242 A1 Patent Application Publication Dec. 18, 2014 Sheet 11 of 13 US 2014/0370242 A1 Patent Application Publication Dec. 18, 2014 Sheet 12 of 13 US 2014/0370242 A1 &##{{{{3?-------- ce f r 670 ATO s s ?|---------------------------??”Äñ”?º? esoteoee Patent Application Publication Dec. 18, 2014 Sheet 13 of 13 US 2014/0370242 A1 ce r c 0^0 e3e3ee US 2014/0370242 A1 Dec. 18, 2014 HGHLY REFLECTIVE temperature increases are particularly dangerous and can MCROCRYSTALLINE/AMORPHOUS result in above average rates of mortality. Under certain con MATERIALS, AND METHODS FOR MAKING ditions, excessive heat also can increase the rate of ground AND USING THE SAME level oZone formation, or Smog, presenting an additional threat to health and ecosystems within and downwind of CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED cities. It is estimated that probability of smog increases by 3% APPLICATIONS for every 0.56°C. (1°F) rise in daily maximum temperature above 21°C. (70°F.). Ozone can be formed when precursor 0001 Under 35 U.S.C. S119(e), this application claims compounds react in the presence of Sunlight and high tem priority to the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Applica peratures. Exposure to ambient oZone, even at low levels, may tion Ser. No. 61/943,992, filed on Feb. 24, 2014; U.S. Provi trigger a variety of health problems, especially in Vulnerable sional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/866,985, filed on Aug. populations such as children, the elderly, and those with pre 16, 2013 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. existing respiratory disease. Because wind can carry OZone 61/793,661, filed on Mar. 15, 2013; the disclosures of which and its precursors hundreds of miles, even residents far away applications are incorporated herein by reference from urban centers and sources of pollution can beat risk. The specific health effects associated with oZone exposure INTRODUCTION include irritating lung airways and causing inflammation, 0002. As the development of cities replaces natural lands, possible permanent lung damage by repeated exposure to forests and open grassy fields with pavements, buildings and oZone pollution for several months, as well as resulting in other infrastructures, the relationship between incoming Sun aggravated asthma, reduced lung capacity, and increased Sus radiation and outgoing terrestrial radiation has been changed. ceptibility to respiratory illnesses by even low-level expo The conversion of pervious Surfaces to impervious Surfaces Sure, etc. In addition, oZone pollution can damage vegetation alters local energy balances through changes in (1) the albe and ecosystems within and downwind of cities. For instance, dos of Surfaces; (2) the heat capacities and thermal conduc ground-level ozone interferes with the ability of plants to tivities of surfaces; (3) the ratio of sensible heat to latent heat grow and store food. OZone also damages the foliage of trees flowing from the surface into the atmosphere. Moreover, dis and other vegetation, reducing crop and forest yields, and placing trees and vegetation minimizes the natural cooling tarnishing the visual appeal of ornamental species and urban effects of shading and evaporation of water from soil and green Spaces. leaves (evapotranspiration); and tall buildings and narrow streets can heat air trapped between them and reduce air flow. SUMMARY In addition, waste heat from vehicles, factories, and air con 0005 Compositions comprising highly reflective microc ditioners may add warmth to their surroundings. These rystalline/amorphous materials are provided. In some changes in urban areas lead to urban air and Surface tempera instances, the highly reflective materials are microcrystalline tures are higher than nearby rural areas. This is referred to as or amorphous carbonate materials, which may include cal “heatisland’ effect. Many U.S. cities and suburbs in summer cium and/or magnesium carbonate. In some instances, the time have air temperatures up to 5.6°C. (10 F) warmer than materials are CO sequestering materials. Also provided are the Surrounding natural land cover. In some cities in the world methods of making and using the compositions, e.g., to the air temperatures in summer have up to 10° C. (18 F.) increase the albedo of a Surface, to mitigate urban heat island higher than the rural areas. effects, etc. 0003 Heat islands are of growing concerns. Elevated tem peratures in Summertime can impact communities by increas ing energy demand, air conditioning costs, air pollution lev BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES els, and heat-related illness and mortality. Summertime heat 0006 FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a roof shingle accord islands may also contribute to global warming by increasing ing to an embodiment of the present invention. demand for air conditioning, which results in additional 0007 FIG. 2A provides picture of a solid block, #11 gran power plant emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases. In ules and a faux shingle prepared from formulation BPit 1. FIG. U.S. cities with populations over 100,000, peak utility loads 2B provides picture of a solid block, #11 granules and a faux increase 2.5 to 3.5% for every 1° C. (1.8° F.) increase in shingle prepared from formulation BPH2. Summertime temperature. Higher temperatures in urban heat islands bring with them increased energy use, mostly due to a 0008 FIG. 3A provides graphical results of the observed greater demand for air conditioning. Steadily increasing reflectance of a solid block of BPH1 and BPH2. FIG. 3B downtown temperatures over the last several decades mean provides graphical results of the observed reflectance of a #11 that 3 to 8% of community-wide demand for electricity is granules of BPH1 and BPH2. FIG. 3C provides graphical used to compensate for the heat island effect. On warm after results of the observed reflectance of a faux shingles of BPH1 noons in Los Angeles, for example, the demand for electric and BPH2, as compared to 25 mills WFT brown adhesive. power rises nearly 2% for every 0.56° C. (1°F) of the daily 0009 FIGS. 4A and 4B provide SEM images of two dif maximum temperature rises. In total, it is estimated that about ferent materials produced in the Experimental Section, 1 to 1.5 gigawatts of power are used to compensate for the below. impact of the heat island. (0010 FIG. 5 provides the infrared spectra of sample 96 0004. The heat island effect is one factor among several cured in various liquids, as detailed in the Experimental Sec that can raise Summertime temperatures to levels that pose a tion, below. threat to human health. Extremely hot weather can result in 0011 FIG. 6 provides graphical results of reflectance vs. illness including physiological disruptions and organ damage color for various prepared materials, as detailed in the Experi and even death. Excessive heat events or abrupt and dramatic mental Section, below. US 2014/0370242 A1 Dec. 18, 2014 0012 FIGS. 7 and 8 provide photographs of several dif are cited. The citation of any publication is for its disclosure ferent colored coupons produced in the Experimental Sec prior to the filing date and should not be construed as an tion, below. admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate 0013 FIG. 9 provides reflectance data of colored precipi such publication by virtue of prior invention. Further, the tates compared to commercial Sakrete pigments, Ferro Pig dates of publication provided may be different from the actual ments and TiO. publication dates which may need to be independently con 0014 FIG. 10 provides a comparison between common firmed.