Solar heat reflective roofing membrane and process for making the same

Abstract

A roofing membrane with high solar heat reflectance includes a bituminous base sheet, a tie-layer with a reinforcement material, and a solar heat-reflective upper layer formed from a powder coating filled with a solar heat-reflective pigment.

1 . (canceled) 
   
   
       2 . (canceled) 
   
   
       3 . (canceled) 
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . A process for preparing a roofing membrane with high solar heat reflectance, the process comprising:
 a) laminating a tie-layer to a bituminous base sheet to form an intermediate sheet;   b) depositing a solar heat-reflective coating composition on the intermediate sheet; and   c) curing the solar heat-reflective coating composition.   
   
   
       12 . A process according to  claim 11  wherein the tie-layer is laminated to the bituminous base sheet by heating the surface of the base sheet to above the softening temperature of the bituminous material, and adhering the tie-layer to the base sheet by contacting the base sheet with the tie-layer and permitting the bituminous material to partially saturate the tie-layer. 
   
   
       13 . A process according to  claim 12  further comprising applying pressure while fusing the solar heat-reflective coating composition. 
   
   
       14 . A process according to  claim 11  wherein the tie-layer is comprised of particulate material, and the particulate material is bonded to the bituminous base sheet by heating the surface of the base sheet to above the softening temperature of the bituminous material, and adhering the tie-layer to the base sheet by depositing the particulate material on the base sheet and permitting the particulate material to at least partially penetrate into the asphaltic surface such that a secure mechanical bond is formed when the heated surface cools. 
   
   
       15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . A method of constructing a roof having high solar heat reflectance, the method comprising adhering to a roofing deck a roofing membrane with high solar heat reflectance, the roofing membrane comprising:
 a) a bituminous base sheet;   b) a tie-layer comprising a reinforcement material; and   c) a solar heat-reflective upper layer comprising a powder coating.   
   
   
       23 . A method of constructing a roof according to  claim 22  wherein the reinforcement material comprises a non-woven web of fibers, said web comprising fibers selected from the group of glass fibers, polymeric fibers and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       24 . A method of constructing a roof according to  claim 22  wherein the powder coating comprises at least one polymeric binder and at least one solar heat reflective pigment. 
   
   
       25 . A method of constructing a roof according to  claim 24  wherein the at least one polymeric binder is powder coating binder. 
   
   
       26 . A method of constructing a roof according to  claim 24  wherein the polymeric binder is polyamide 11. 
   
   
       27 . A method of constructing a roof according to  claim 24  wherein the polymeric binder is an acrylic copolymer. 
   
   
       28 . A method of constructing a roof according to  claim 24  wherein the at least one solar heat reflective pigment is titanium dioxide.