Nissan trials metamaterial thermal coating
Nissan has been testing an automotive paint that uses a metamaterial to help lower the ambient cabin temperature in a vehicle.
The paint was developed in partnership with Radi-Cool, a specialist in radiative cooling products, and the paint incorporates a metamaterial, a synthetic composite materials with structures that exhibit properties not usually found in nature.
The metamaterial uses two microstructure particles that react to light. One particle reflects near-infrared rays in the sunlight that would typically cause molecular level vibrations within the resin of traditional paint to produce heat.
The second particle enables the real breakthrough. It creates electromagnetic waves, that counteract the sun’s rays, redirecting the energy away from the vehicle into the atmosphere. Combined, the particles reduce the transfer of heat into surfaces such as the roof, hood, doors and panels.
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Nissan started a 12-month feasibility trial at Tokyo International Air Terminal at Haneda last November on a Nissan NV100 service vehicle operated by All Nippon Airways (ANA) airport services.
With its large, open tarmac, Haneda airport provided a suitable environment to conduct real-world evaluation of the paint’s performance under an exposed high-temperature environment.
Parked side-by-side under the sun, a vehicle treated with the cool paint has shown yields of up to a 12 C reduction in exterior surface temperatures and up to 5 C cooler interior, compared to a vehicle featuring traditional automotive paint.
The cooling is particularly noticeable when a vehicle is parked in the sun for an extended period, and reduces the air-conditioning run-time and the draw on the battery of an EV.
“My dream is to create cooler cars without consuming energy,” said Dr. Susumu Miura, senior manager and expert at the Advanced Materials and Processing Laboratory, Nissan Research Center. “This is especially important in the EV era, where the load from running air-conditioning in summer can have a sizable impact on the state of charge.”
Metamaterials have been used for a wide range of applications, largely in the Rf field. Key challenges Miura had to consider when developing an automotive version, was to ensure it could incorporate a clear topcoat, be applied via a spray gun (not a roller), and meet Nissan’s rigorous internal standards for paint quality.
Miura and his team have tested over 100 samples since 2021 and are currently evaluating a thickness of 120 microns, approximately six times thicker than typical automotive paint. They have confirmed resistance to salt and chipping, peeling, scratches, chemical reactions, along with colour consistency and repairability. As development progresses, Miura and his team continue to explore thinner options that deliver the same level of cooling performance.
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