# US 10,246,879 B2 · Roofing granules with high solar reflectance, roofing products with high solar reflectance, and processes for producing same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,879 B2 - Document ID: US10246879B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/211,085 - Filed: 2016-07-15 - Published: 2016-11-10 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2007-05-24 - Assignees: CertainTeed Corporation - Applicants: CertainTeed Corporation - Inventors: Ming Liang Shiao; Keith C. Hong; Walter T. Stephens - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246879B2 ## CPC - C04B 18/023: {Fired or melted materials} - C04B 18/021: {agglomerated by a mineral binder, e.g. cement} - C04B 33/04: Clay; Kaolin - C04B 33/14: Colouring matters - C04B 35/62695: {Granulation or pelletising (devices for shaping artificial aggregates from ceramic mixtures B28B1/004)} - C04B 35/62821: {Titanium oxide} - C04B 35/6316: {Binders based on silicon compounds} - C04B 35/636: Polysaccharides or derivatives thereof - C04B 35/6365: {Cellulose or derivatives thereof} - C04B 35/64: Burning or sintering processes (C04B33/32 takes precedence {; powder metallurgy B22F}) - E04D 5/12: specially modified, e.g. perforated, with granulated surface, with attached pads - E04D 7/005: {characterised by loose or embedded gravel or granules as an outer protection of the roof covering} - C04B 2111/00586: {Roofing materials} - C04B 2111/80: Optical properties, e.g. transparency or reflexibility - C04B 2235/3232: Titanium oxides or titanates, e.g. rutile or anatase - C04B 2235/3427: Silicates other than clay, e.g. water glass - C04B 2235/349: Clays, e.g. bentonites, smectites such as montmorillonite, vermiculites or kaolines, e.g. illite, talc or sepiolite - C04B 2235/48: Organic compounds becoming part of a ceramic after heat treatment, e.g. carbonising phenol resins - C04B 2235/656: characterised by specific heating conditions during heat treatment - C04B 2235/9646: Optical properties - E04D 2001/005: {the roofing elements having a granulated surface} - Y02A 30/254: Roof garden systems; Roof coverings with high solar reflectance - Y02B 80/00: Architectural or constructional elements improving the thermal performance of buildings - Y10T 428/2982: Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.] - Y10T 428/2993: Silicic or refractory material containing [e.g., tungsten oxide, glass, cement, etc.] - C04B: LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE {(roofing granules E04D7/005)}; CERAMICS (devitrified glass-ceramics C03C10/00); REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE - E04D: ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS (coverings of outer walls by plaster or other porous material E04F13/00) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Solar reflective roofing granules include a binder and inert mineral particles, with solar reflective particles dispersed in the binder. An agglomeration process preferentially disposes the solar reflective particles at a desired depth within or beneath the surface of the granules. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for preparing solar reflective roofing granules, the process comprising: (a) providing an inorganic binder and inert mineral particles to form a mixture; (b) forming the mixture into uncured granule bodies having an exterior surface; (c) adhering solar reflective particles only at or proximate to the exterior surface of the uncured granule bodies; and (d) firing the binder to provide the solar reflective roofing granules having the solar reflective particles only at or proximate to the exterior surfaces thereof. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the solar reflective particles are mechanically adhered to the exterior surface of the uncured granule bodies. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1, further comprising mixing the solar reflective particles with a fluid carrier to form a paste and adhering the solar reflective particles to the exterior surface of the granule bodies by applying the paste to the exterior surface of the granule bodies. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 further comprising sizing the uncured granules by screening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 further comprising surface treating the cured roofing granules. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the inert mineral particles comprise uncalcined kaolin, the binder comprises metal silicate, and the binder is cured by heating the uncured granules at from about 500 degrees C. to 800 degrees C. ### Claim 7 A process for preparing solar reflective roofing granules, the process comprising: (a) providing an inorganic binder, ceramic particles and solar reflective particles; (b) dispersing the ceramic particles and the solar reflective particles in the inorganic binder to form a mixture; (c) forming the mixture into uncured granules, each uncured granule having a plurality of solar reflective particles homogeneously dispersed with a plurality of ceramic particles; and (d) firing the uncured granules to form cured roofing granules, each cured roofing granule including a plurality of the solar reflective particles at or proximate to an exterior surface thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The process according to claim 7 wherein the ceramic particles have an average particle size of from about 0.1 micrometers to about 40 micrometers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A process according to claim 7 further comprising selecting the solar reflective particles to provide at least 60 percent solar reflectance to the cured roofing granules. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A process according to claim 7 further comprising sizing the uncured granules by screening. ### Claim 11 A process for preparing solar reflective roofing granules, the process comprising: (a) providing an inorganic binder and ceramic particles; (b) forming the ceramic particles and inorganic binder into uncured granule bodies having an exterior surface; (c) adhering solar reflective particles only at or proximate to the exterior surface of the uncured granule bodies; and (d) sintering the uncured granule bodies to form solar reflective roofing granules having the solar reflective particles only at or proximate to the exterior surfaces thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A process according to claim 11 wherein the solar reflective particles are mechanically adhered to the exterior surface of the uncured granule bodies. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A process according to claim 11 further comprising providing a sintering binder and mixing the sintering binder with the ceramic particles to form a mixture and subsequently forming the mixture including the ceramic particles into uncured granule bodies.