# Purdue team develops paint reflecting 98.1% of sunlight 2026-08-07T02:45:47+00:00 | Technology | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Engineers at Purdue University have developed a barium sulfate-based white paint that laboratory tests found reflects about 98.1% of sunlight. The coating is designed to reduce heat absorbed by roofs and walls, lowering reliance on air conditioning. Published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, the research reports that painted samples stayed about 4.5°C below surrounding air temperatures in daytime tests and around 10.5°C lower after sunset. The team used particles of different sizes to scatter a wider range of sunlight while balancing reflectivity against cracking and peeling. Researchers estimate that applying the coating to a 1,000-square-foot roof could provide a cooling effect equivalent to roughly 10 kilowatts under favourable conditions. Actual results will depend on climate, roof design and weather. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: cooling paint, energy efficiency, Purdue University, radiative cooling Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/purdue-team-develops-paint-reflecting-98-1-of-sunlight/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/purdue-team-develops-paint-reflecting-98-1-of-sunlight/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.