SOLARTEC is a purpose-made, solar reflective coating that incorporates a synthetic copolymer-based resin containing inert titanium-based pigments, proprietary fillers and special UV barrier pigments in an ethanol solution. The coating can be applied to a variety of surfaces including flat and pitched asphalt, bituminous membrane, concrete, ceramic tiles, brick and plaster, metal roofing sheets etc.







The application of SOLARTEC offers several advantages. Since the absorption of solar energy by buildings is significantly reduced, structural movements are minimized and air-conditioning costs are lowered.








SOLARTEC combats infrared and ultraviolet degradation of asphalt, bituminous membranes and metal roofs. Also, the roof replacement and recoating cycle is extended. The durability of the coating is not affected by the ponding of water. Further, there is a large reduction in the loading on flat roofs.








SOLARTEC is easy to apply and maintain. In addition, repaired areas can be easily and economically recoated.










The pigments incorporated within SOLARTEC are chemically stable and remain effective even under the most demanding environmental conditions. The coating is resistant to alkalis, acids, salt spray, fungi and algae.












SOLARTEC is available in three standard colours – white, green and grey. The exact degree of solar reflectivity, measured across the entire solar spectrum, achieved by SOLARTEC White, SOLARTEC Green and SOLARTEC Grey, is 85%, 75% and 65% respectively. Other colours are available upon request. SOLARTEC is available in 5 kg, 10 kg and 20 kg drums.










Specially developed pigments and proprietary fillers in SOLARTEC make the surface a good reflector of solar radiation covering the full spectrum, from ultraviolet to infra-red. It is also a good radiator of infra-red heat, that is, it readily emits any collected heat. SOLARTEC thus becomes an external ‘heat rejecting’ membrane, in thicknesses of 50 microns to 100 microns.













Studies conducted in Australia and the UK have shown that the heat reflected by SOLARTEC is 85% of the solar radiation. In addition, 13% of the radiation absorbed is re-radiated as long wave, infra-red heat. Thus, only 2% of the heat penetrates a given surface.












In 2001, Energy Testing Services Ltd, UK studied the effects of solar reflective coatings applied to roofs in Singapore, on the cooling loads on buildings, in accordance with the Singapore Building Control Regulations, for three roof structure categories - heavy, medium and light. Results tabulated throughout the whole year, showed a 60% to 65% reduction in solar heat gain, due to the coatings.









SOLARTEC has been widely used in projects around the world for more than 15 years.In Singapore, SOLARTEC has been successfully applied in several projects including the former Shell Recreation Club, Nanyang Technological University Estate Office, ECON Building, Clementi Community Centre, Singapore National Parks Board, Junction 8 Shopping Centre, Buona Vista Garden Condominium, Comfort Resources Factory and ROTOL Singapore Factory, as well as in many private residences and other types of buildings.











At the former Shell Recreation Club, the temperature reduction observed at the underside of the galvanized roof, was 10º C to more than 20º C during the hottest part of the day, as a result of the SOLARTEC application. On the topside surface of the concrete roof slab at the Nanyang Technological University Estate Office, a difference of 13.4º C was recorded.]]> Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:21:21 +0100 http://www.rfaguide.com//index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=94:surefoot4-perfect-grid-mat-system&catid=41:coating-a-corrosion-control&directory=220       Surefoot4, the new product line developed by   Invisible Structures Inc. provides long awaited relief in the struggle between livestock care givers and the ground their four hoofed friends walk upon. Surefoot4 is a flexible, injection molded plastic ring and grid mat system with a filter fabric backing. The design has been successfully used as porous paving/reinforcement for grass and gravel fire lanes and overflow parking since 1982. Its stable, firm surface accommodates loads in excess of 50 tons per animal hoof. The polyester filter backing allows liquid to rapidly filter through to natural drainage layers below while at the same time acts as a weed barrier and prevents mixing of base dirt with bedding or footing material. These features have proven to provide the added benefit of use of 50% to 75% less bedding material when used as stall flooring. Applications include stall flooring, wash stalls, auto walkers, cattle working areas, feed lots, paddocks, feeding or watering areas, turnouts, barn and arena access areas, along with racing facilities, grooming stalls and breeding areas, parking for trailers, cattle chutes, holding pens, crowd alleys, squeeze chutes and more.

Surefoot4 solves many of the problems livestock owners encounter such as:

• Liquid waste and rain causing mud, erosion, and puddles

• Livestock digging holes, loosening soils, and wearing trenches

• Slippery, uneven surfaces

• Irregular, stressful footing

• Surefoot4 reduces barn odour

• Surefoot4 apart from the following benefits, reduces bedding waste by 50-75%:

• Surefoot4 is cheaper and safer than concrete

• Hauling heavy rubber mats for cleaning is a thing of the past

• Surefoot4 is less stressful on the joints of an animal, therefore reducing leg and tendon injuries

• This revolutionary product is permanent and easy to maintain.

Winner of the ECO Silver Award in the ECO Products International Fair 2006, Adgreencoat technology is a shielding coating developed with inorganic fine particles and special modified emulsion resin as base materials, which creates an ultra-strong coating against ultraviolet rays. It is designed for slate and steel plates.

Using non-organic fine particles that were developed via special formula as filler, good performance with both exhaust heat radiating and reflectivity properties are achieved. Adgreencoat is a functional coating that enables application of extremely high content and maintenance of its high quality. Specific properties of Adgreencoat include high reflectivity, exhaust heat radiating, weather-proof and durability.

The world’s first pyrolytic solar control Low-E glass, Pilkington Solar E Glass is the perfect solution for meeting cooling load requirements and other energy code programs. Manufactured using a unique chemical vapor deposition method, Pilkington Solar E Glass features an integral pyrolytic surface which provides superior fabricating and handling qualities. As a result, the glass can be handled, cut and tempered, and offers unlimited shelf life. In addition, no edge deletion or special handling is required. This product optimizes solar control and energy efficiency of clear I.G. units to create an excellent Pilkington Sun Management™ Glass System. It reduces heat gain, with an I.G. solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of only 0.45, compared to SHGCs of 0.70 for clear float and 0.61 for Pilkington Energy Advantage™ Low-E Glass.

     SIKASIL® silicone sealants have been specially developed for difficult applications on glass, metal and natural stone facades. They include Sikasil® SG products for structural glazing, Sikasil® IG for insulating glass units and Sikasil® WS for weatherseals. The professional product range is rounded off with compatible Sika® accessories: spacer tapes, primers, substrate cleaners and machine cleaners. All the products match one another.

Sikasil® weatherseals

Sika offers a new sealant for protecting movement joints against the elements:

Sikasil® for adhesion to facade material

Sikasil® WS-605 S offers exceptional flexibility and excellent adhesion to facade materials; and even non staining properties to glass, metals and some types of natural stone. Another tried and tested weatherseal product is Sikasil® WS-305, which ensures excellent bond strength and weathering resistance. Sikasil® WS-355 is formulated to meet the specific requirements of natural stone facades. This ready-to-use sealant does not stain the edges of natural stone joints and is not corrosive to metals.

Sikasil® for fire-protection

Sikasil® WS-665 is a fire-protection sealant designed for sealing, bonding and repairing applications in the construction sector. This flame-retarding sealant can also be used on alkaline substrates such as concrete and mortar, and is therefore suitable for expansion joints that have to satisfy stringent flame-retardant requirement. Sikasil® WS-665 is characterised by fire restistance for a long duration. A self-leveling version is also available for floor joints.

Sikasil® for glazing applications

Sikasil® WS-621 is the right solution when high mechanical strength is required in total vision glazing (TVG) and other high performance glazing applications.

Structural glazing with Sikasil

For on-site structural glazing applications, Sika offers the one-part silicone sealants Sikasil® SG-18 and Sikasil® SG-20 with high UV and weathering resistance. Sikasil® SG-20 is additionally characterised by extremely high mechanical strength and excellent bonding. Sikasil® SG-500 is preferred for machine application; it is a fast-curing silicone sealant with unrivalled resistance to UV and weathering.

Sikasil® for insulating glass

Sikasil® IG-25 is a two-part silicone sealant developed for bonding multipane insulating glass units in curtain walls. It combines high mechanical strength and good inherent bonding strength with excellent resistance to weathering and UV. With the ultra high modulus secondary sealant Sikasil® IG- 25 HM it is even possible to produce IG units with inert gas filling with a service life of more than 30 years.

ALUCORE is an aluminium honeycomb core endowed composite panel with an exceptionally high bending strength at an extremely low weight. In contrast to traditional honeycomb composites with brittle-hard bonding systems, the ALUCORE bonding system is tough and resilient yet features a high degree of elasticity. The advantages resulting therefrom are improved peel strength, higher damage tolerances and additional processing options, to name just a few.

With all the advantages there are to an optimal system solution, ALUCORE is produced in a continuous manufacturing process, in which the core and the cover sheets, already stove-lacquered, are bonded.

The result: This high-performance honeycomb composite can be produced in large contract quantities at short notice – making it an attractive proposition in value for money. With its low weight and high weather resistance, ALUCORE ideally lends itself to both indoor and outdoor applications.

‘Innovations without chemistry are like economic growth without Asia,’ so says Dr. Stefan Marcinowski, Member of the Board of Executive Directors at BASF.

IN the simplest of analogies, yet perhaps the most succinct, The Lotus Plant represents the core of this technology – Water and dirt roll off the surface without a trace. And this is precisely the reason why The Lotus plant stands as the symbol for BASF’s Research Centre. The potential for nanotechnology is enormous. This is where Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Engineering and Mathematics converge to create solutions so powerful that they will enhance quality of life, safety and health.

Nanostructured research and expertise will develop new materials, surfaces and formulations that adhere to the right processes. Such materials are used in products like coatings, dispersions and plastics. These vastly improved products then become the basis for a wide variety of other products. Nanotechnology has great potential for delivering environmentally sound, energy saving and resource conserving products and processes.

Take BASF’s Col.9 for instance. It is one such fine example of products using Nanotechnology. After a while exterior paints look dirty, and require elaborate cleaning. To get around this imbroglio, Col.9 incorporates binders with nanoparticles. In this tiny inorganic silica particles are uniformly set into organic polymer particles within an aqueous dispersion. After this formulation dries, it forms a uniform 3D network which ensures an extremely hard surface that hardens at low temperatures. Virtually no dirt adheres to a surface coated with Col.9.