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This was a huge project and my longest video to date! A long overdue update to my IR cooling paint project, this time using common and very affordable materials. Besides the paint itself I was happy to discover some new methods for making size controlled calcium carbonate microspheres. That may prove useful for all sorts of things. I hope you enjoy!

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Making ACTIVE Cooling Paint From Grocery Store Items (w/Novel CaCO₃ Microsphere Synthesis)

Check out my sponsor Brilliant, free for 30 days by using this link: https://brilliant.org/nighthawk In this video we explore new methods of making cutting edge radiative sky cooling paint with common grocery and hardware store items. This paint when properly applied can allow for clean, electricity free air conditioning to several degrees below ambient air temperature in direct sunlight. My previous radiative cooling paint video: https://youtu.be/N3bJnKmeNJY Cooling paint video(s) by Tech Ingredients: https://youtu.be/5zW9_ztTiw8 & https://youtu.be/dNs_kNilSjk NightHawkInLight's super CaCO₃ micro-sphere pigment recipe: Sodium Carbonate (washing soda) ......... 20g dissolved in 200 mL water Calcium Chloride (painter's desiccant) ... 10g dissolved in 100 mL water Citric Acid (used for canning) .................. 3g dissolved in 30 mL water 1. Combine Calcium Chloride and Citric Acid solutions into one container. 2. Adjust the temperature of the liquids to be between 10-20°C (50-70°F). 3. Pour Calcium Chloride/Citric Acid solution into mixer and begin stirring. 4. Pour the Sodium Carbonate solution into the mixer and begin a timer. 5. Allow solution to mix for 1 minute. 6. Turn off mixer and pour the liquid into a separate container. 7. Wash the mixer with vinegar and water to prepare for the next batch. ***Make 3 total batches following steps 1-7, each time allowing the solution to mix for 1 minute. To save time you can make large quantities of the starting solutions all at once, chill all of it to 10-20°C, and then measure out enough for individual batches by volume just prior to mixing. 8. Make a fourth batch, mixing for an increased time of 5 minutes. ***Optional: Make a fifth batch at 1/3 scale, mixing for an increased time of 8-10 minutes. 9. Allow 20-60 minutes for the pigment to settle out of all batches. 10. Pour the water off the top of the settled pigment and refill containers with water. 11. Repeat settling and pouring off water 1-2 more times. 12. Cut a rectangular opening in the bottom of a disposable bread tin. 13. Line the tin with paper towel and a sheet of white printer paper. 14. Pour the pigment solutions into the tin, using the paper as a filter. 15. Pour extra distilled water over the pigment to wash it. 16. Once filtered, place the whole tin into an oven to dry at 100°C (212°F). 17. Collect pigment, breaking up clumps in a blender if needed. Thank you to everyone that supports this channel on Patreon! A special thanks to my top patrons: Teague Lasser, Eugene Pakhomov, Evan Hughes, Peter Gordon, and those who have chosen to remain anonymous. Thank you! https://www.patreon.com/NightHawkProjects

Comments

Tristan Tonks

This video has been a huge boost to a project I am working on. However; I have a question that may need some experimentation. What resins or solutions can be used to stabilise the material without reducing it's performance below desirable levels. For example, many polymers will gradually degrade over time and subsequently stop the light from passing through. So how can we make a stable paint from this?

Steve C

Is it possible to grow an additional layer on top of the spheres after they are processed? Say to clad the outside in Bismuth? Quartz? Or Zinc/Copper? Any ideas, World?

Steve C

My father is a ceramic engineer and I've been consulting with him on commercializing this for space cooling panels ever since Nighthawk did the majority of experimentation proof of concept. One of the main hurdles we identified is the stability over time. He mentioned that Henry Coatings actually makes a very high quality coating that is stable for long periods of time.. What I'm wondering is - how does adding say 10%/20%/30% CaCo3 effect the longevity of the coating in tandem.