Passive Daytime Radiative Cooling by Thermoplastic Polyurethane Wrapping Films with Controlled Hierarchical Porous...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Thermal Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Effective thermal management is crucial for vehicle comfort and energy efficiency.
• Passive radiative cooling offers a sustainable solution for reducing heat absorption.
• Existing solutions often lack durability or efficiency in real-world conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel stretchable passive radiative cooling film for vehicle interiors.
• To investigate the thermal performance of a hierarchical porous thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) film.
• To compare the cooling efficacy of the developed film against commercial automotive paints.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a stretchable TPU film with a hierarchical porous structure.
• Application of the film to a vehicle interior surface.
• Experimental testing under simulated sunny and hot weather conditions.
• Measurement of surface temperature reduction and comparison with control surfaces.

Main Results:

• The developed TPU cooling film demonstrated a significant passive radiative cooling effect.
• The hierarchical porous structure contributed to enhanced radiative properties.
• The film provided a dramatic cooling effect compared to commercial paint under direct sunlight.
• The stretchable nature of the film allowed for effective application on curved surfaces.

Conclusions:

• Stretchable passive radiative cooling films offer a promising solution for vehicle interior thermal management.
• The hierarchical porous structure of TPU is key to achieving high cooling performance.
• This technology has the potential to improve occupant comfort and reduce energy consumption in vehicles.