Highly reflective roofing materials

Abstract

A roofing or siding system having an improved average resulting reflectivity. The roofing and/or siding system is at least partially coated with a plurality of granules. At least one layer of paint is applied to the roofing and/or siding system to increase the resulting reflectivity of the roofing and/or siding system.

1 . A prefabricated roofing or siding system comprising an adhering surface on which at least one layer of granules are at least partially secured thereto, and at least one layer of paint.  
     
     
         2 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said paint is a highly reflective paint.  
     
     
         3 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said granules are highly reflective granules.  
     
     
         4 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 1 , including at least two layers of granules, each layer of said granules has a different average particle size.  
     
     
         5 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one layer of paint is positioned on a top layer of said granules.  
     
     
         6 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one layer of said paint is positioned between two layers of granules.  
     
     
         7 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one layer of paint is positioned between said adhering surface and a layer of said granules.  
     
     
         8 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a resulting reflectivity of said roofing or siding system is at least about 60%.  
     
     
         9 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said adhering surface includes an asphalt and/or bitumen surface.  
     
     
         10 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said adhering surface includes an adhesive surface.  
     
     
         11 - 45 . (canceled)  
     
     
         46 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a resulting reflectivity of said roofing or siding system is at least about 50%.  
     
     
         47 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 46 , wherein a resulting reflectivity of said roofing or siding system is at least about 60%.  
     
     
         48 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a majority of said granules applied to said adhering material are partially embedded in said adhering material.  
     
     
         49 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said roofing or siding material includes a composite fabric.  
     
     
         50 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said highly reflective granules comprise silicon dioxide and over 50 weight percent aluminum oxide and having a weight percent ratio of aluminum oxide to silicon dioxide of about 0.8-10:1, and having an average reflectivity of at least about 55%.  
     
     
         51 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said highly reflective granules comprise silicon dioxide and at least about 94 weight percent aluminum oxide and having a weight percent ratio of aluminum oxide to silicon dioxide of about 15-8000:1, and having an average reflectivity of at least about 55%.  
     
     
         52 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said highly reflective granules comprise crushed porcelain, said porcelain including silicon dioxide and at least about 25 weight percent aluminum oxide and having a weight percent ratio of aluminum oxide to silicon dioxide of at least about 0.2:1, and having an average reflectivity of at least about 55%.  
     
     
         53 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said highly reflective granules comprise: 
 Al 2 O 3  at least about 45 weight percent    SiO 2  up to about 54 weight percent    Fe 2 O 3  up to about 0.5 weight percent    CaO up to about 0.1 weight percent    MgO up to about 0.1 weight percent    TiO 2  up to about 0.8 weight percent    Na 2 O up to about 0.05 weight percent    K 2 O up to about 0.03 weight percent.    
     
     
         54 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said highly reflective granules comprise: 
 Al 2 O 3  about 45-74 weight percent    SiO 2  about 20-52 weight percent    Fe 2 O 3  about 0.3-1.3 weight percent    CaO up to about 0.1 weight percent    MgO up to about 0.1 weight percent    TiO 2  up to about 3 weight percent    Na 2 O+K 2 O up to about 0.65 weight percent    
     
     
         55 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said highly reflective granules comprise: 
 Al 2 O 3  at least about 94 weight percent    SiO 2  up to about 0.1 weight percent    Fe 2 O 3  up to about 0.15 weight percent    CaO up to about 0.12 weight percent    Na 2 O up to about 0.35 weight percent    
     
     
         56 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said highly reflective granules comprise: 
 Al 2 O 3  at least about 99 weight percent    SiO 2  up to about 0.1 weight percent    Fe 2 O 3  up to about 0.15 weight percent    CaO up to about 0.12 weight percent    Na 2 O up to about 0.35 weight percent    
     
     
         57 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said highly reflective granules are non-coated granules having a generally white color.  
     
     
         58 . The roofing or siding system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said paint has a generally white color.