Solar reflective composite granules and method of making solar reflective composite granules

A method of making a plurality of composite granules, comprising:

• forming green body granules comprising an aluminosilicate, water, and aluminum trihydrate, wherein the aluminosilicate has an average particle size of at least 30 microns and not greater than 150 microns;
• and an amount of the aluminosilicate is at least 70 wt % based on the total weight of the green body granules;
• and
• heating the green body granules to a maximum sintering temperature of at least 1000° C. and not greater than 1300° C.,
• wherein the plurality of composite granules comprise an amount of aluminum trihydrate of at least 2 wt % based on the total weight of the composite granules;
• an amount of aluminosilicate of at least 70 wt % based on the total weight of the composite granules;
• a solar reflectance (SR) of at least 25%;
• and a L* value not greater than 50;
• and wherein the composite granules are free of a coating which increases solar reflectance.