i2Cool Launches C5-Grade Power-Free Radiative Cooling Anti-Corrosion Coating

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On August 11, 2026, i2Cool unveiled its new functional coating, i2Coating CorroCool, in Hong Kong. This product integrates passive radiative cooling with C5 high-durability anti-corrosion protection into a single coating system, designed for the synergistic management of heat and corrosion on industrial metal surfaces such as metal roofing, petrochemical storage tanks, outdoor electrical equipment, and telecommunications enclosures.

Developed by i2Cool with technical support from Kinte Materials Science and Technology Co, this coating combines passive radiative cooling materials with a high-solids silane polymer system. It delivers cooling, anti-corrosion, and weather resistance simultaneously without requiring electricity, water, or mechanical cooling equipment. Professor Martin Y.H. Zhu, co-founder and CEO of i2Cool, stated that industrial metal surfaces should not have to choose between corrosion protection and temperature control. CorroCool merges both functions into one, helping industrial assets stay cool while providing long-term protection against harsh environmental conditions.

Industrial metal assets have long faced two interrelated challenges. Under direct summer sunlight, metal roofs, storage tanks, and outdoor enclosures can reach surface temperatures of approximately 60 to 80 degrees Celsius. Heat is rapidly conducted into buildings or equipment through highly thermally conductive metals, driving up cooling demand and accelerating component aging. Meanwhile, moisture, salt spray, and chemical pollutants in highly corrosive environments such as coastal areas and chemical facilities continuously erode metal substrates. Traditional anti-corrosion coatings provide only barrier protection and do not actively manage solar heat, while thermal control coatings often fall short of meeting the anti-corrosion requirements of demanding industrial environments.

CorroCool uses a high-solids silane polymer as its primary film-forming material. During curing, silane groups hydrolyze to form silanol groups, which react with hydroxyl groups on the metal surface to create robust Si–O–metal bonds, anchoring the coating to the substrate. Further condensation reactions among silane molecules form a dense three-dimensional network that blocks the penetration of moisture and corrosive media. At a recommended total dry film thickness of 200 to 250 micrometers, the coating's protection mechanism comprises three elements: chemical bonding with the metal substrate, a dense physical barrier against corrosive media, and nano-functional particles that provide passive radiative cooling. Laboratory tests show that the coating achieves an adhesion strength exceeding 10 MPa under specified test conditions.

CorroCool's cooling mechanism is inspired by the Saharan silver ant. This ant survives extreme desert heat by relying on microscopic hair structures that reflect sunlight and dissipate heat via mid-infrared radiation. i2Cool has applied this principle to engineered materials, giving CorroCool two complementary thermal functions: a solar reflectance of at least 92%, reducing absorption of incoming solar energy, and an emissivity of at least 95% within the 8 to 13 micrometer atmospheric window, allowing heat to be released as mid-infrared radiation toward cold outer space. Together, these functions enable the coating surface to cool continuously without consuming electricity, thereby reducing evaporation losses of volatile materials in storage tanks and lowering cooling loads for industrial facilities.

For highly corrosive outdoor service conditions, CorroCool has passed relevant tests: C5 high-durability anti-corrosion protection complies with ISO 12944-6 requirements; salt spray resistance of at least 1,440 hours; acid and alkali resistance of at least 240 hours; adhesion exceeding 10 MPa; solar reflectance of at least 92%; atmospheric window emissivity of at least 95%; and in a 1,500-hour xenon lamp aging test, gloss loss of approximately 12% with a color change rating of Grade 1. The product features an integrated primer-topcoat design, eliminating the need for a separate anti-corrosion primer and thermal control topcoat combination, which simplifies application processes, reduces labor costs, and shortens maintenance downtime for large facilities.

In terms of applications, CorroCool targets four primary scenarios: metal-roofed industrial buildings, where it lowers indoor temperatures and cooling demand in workshops and warehouses by managing solar heat and protecting the roof substrate; petrochemical storage tanks, where it reduces tank temperature to minimize evaporation and "breathing" losses of volatile materials while resisting chemical, moisture, and salt spray attack; outdoor telecommunications and electrical enclosures, where it reduces heat ingress, protects metal housings, and provides a more stable environment for temperature-sensitive internal components; and additionally, power facilities, offshore and coastal infrastructure, industrial piping, metal containers, and outdoor manufacturing equipment.

This launch extends the application of passive radiative cooling technology from building energy efficiency to industrial asset protection. Kinte Materials Science and Technology Co contributed formulation and industrial anti-corrosion expertise to the product development. The company is a subsidiary of the China National Electric Apparatus Research Institute under SINOMACH. i2Cool is a technology company focused on passive radiative cooling, offering electricity-free cooling materials and solutions. Its product portfolio includes functional coatings, cooling films, membrane materials, ceramics, textiles, and material additives, covering sectors such as construction, industrial facilities, transportation, and consumer goods.