Expanding the Palette of Cool Colors Solutions

Nathan Karszes

FERRO

It is well known that black/dark surfaces absorb and retain heat from the sun, whereas white surfaces remain cool. This heat build-up effect of black/dark surfaces contributes to global warming and also creates escalations in energy consumption. Moreover, it can potentially reduce the service life of plastic parts and put the health and safety of consumers in contact with them at risk. It is also known that the heat build-up effect is usually related to the components of the surface substrate, and the pigments utilized to color the substrate are significant contributor to such a phenomenon. The heat build-up of a plastic substrate exposed to sunlight is mostly related to the absorption of Near Infrared (NIR) wavelengths from the sun by the pigments within to the plastic substrate surface. One way to measure the energy absorbed by any substrate is by determining its Total Solar Reflectance (TSR), expressed as a percentage of the light reflected by the exposed surface; the pigments which have a high TSR are commonly known as high IR reflective pigments. We can find more than one hundred different pigment chemistries suitable for plastics applications, with just a few of them considered as cool colors. Most of the cool colors are identified chemically as Complex Inorganic Color Pigments. However, Ultramarine Blues are now included in such a restricted list. This paper reviews the scientific principle behind the cool color concept, the new additions to the list of cool pigments and the synergies created by the union of technologies and pigments from Ferro & Nubiola to expand the cool color solutions palette.

Biography – Nathan Karszes

Work History: In 1990, Nathan graduated from Emory University in Atlanta, GA. with a Bachelor’s of Science. After 7 years’ experience in the Fiber Optics Industry, he entered the plastics industry working for PolyOne and Standridge Color Corporation. He was hired by the Nubiola USA operations in 2003 as Plastic Applications Manager to become Technical/Quality Manager. In July 2015, Ferro acquired Nubiola. He currently holds the position of Technical Applications Manager – North America with responsibilities in R&D under the Global R&D Director as well as assisting the commercial team for procurement, sales and distribution of pigments. Nathan is the Past Chairman of the SSCT Atlanta Division and also a current Board Member of the Color and Appearance Division of Society of Plastics Engineers. He has presented and published many trade references during his career.

Responsibilities at Ferro Performance Pigments and Oxides: Performs a wide range of duties in management of daily responsibilities; associated with the Technical Applications, Developments, ISO 9001:2008 and safety functions of the organization.  Currently resides in Atlanta Georgia working from the Technical Applications Laboratory just outside of Atlanta, GA in Norcross, GA Ferro Facility.