Energy saving roof

Abstract

A roof comprises shingles of asphalt construction and has a color changing outer surface. The color changing outer surface can have a first color under a first environmental condition and a second color under a second environmental condition. The color changing outer surface is capable of both changing from the first color to the second color and from the second color to the first color.

1 . A roof comprising shingles, the shingles being of asphalt construction and having a color changing outer surface, the color changing outer surface having a first color under a first environmental condition and a second color under a second environmental condition, the color changing outer surface capable of both changing from the first color to the second color and from the second color to the first color. 
     
     
         2 . The roof of  claim 1  wherein the outer surface includes (a) one or more electron-donating, chromatic organic compounds selected from the group consisting of diaryl phthalides, aryl phthalides, indolylphthalides, polyarylcarbinols, leucoauramines, acrylauramines, arylauramines, rhodamine B lactams, indolines, spiropyrans, fluorans, thiofluorans, phenothiazines, triphenylmethanes, diarylarylfurans, spiroxanthenearylfurans, and chromenoindoles, (b) one or more compounds capable of reversibly accepting electrons of said organic compound selected from the group consisting of phenolic hydroxy group-containing compounds and derivatives thereof and carboxyl group-containing compounds and derivatives thereof, (c) one or more compounds controlling the temperature and sensitivity of coloration/decoloration of said thermochromatic material selected from the group consisting of alcohols, esters, ketones, esters, acid amides and carboxylic acids, the ratio of each component to others (a):(b):(c) being 1:0.1 to 10:1 to 100 by weight, and (d) one or more radical cationic compounds selected from the group consisting of N-radical cationic, P-radical cationic, O-radical cationic and S-radical cationic compounds having aromatic ring(s), in an amount of from 0.01 to 5 parts by weight per 1 part by weight of said electron-donating chromatic organic compound, said radical cationic compound interacting with said electron-donating, chromatic organic compound to stabilize said compound, resulting in a thermochromatic material with an improved resistance to light. 
     
     
         3 . The roof of  claim 2  wherein the outer surface comprises asphalt. 
     
     
         4 . The roof of  claim 1  wherein a transparent layer is disposed over the outer surface. 
     
     
         5 . A roof comprising shingles, the shingles having a color changing outer surface having a first color under a first environmental condition and a second color under a second environmental condition, the color changing outer surface capable of both changing from the first color to the second color and from the second color to the first color, the shingles being selected from the group consisting of asphalt, wood, metal, and concrete. 
     
     
         6 . The roof of  claim 5  wherein both the first environmental condition and the second environmental condition are selected from the group consisting of temperature, light level, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The roof of  claim 5  wherein the color changing outer surface is covered by a layer of transparent material. 
     
     
         8 . The roof of  claim 5  wherein the outer surface comprises a thermochromatic coating. 
     
     
         9 . The roof of  claim 5  wherein the outer layer is a laminate comprising thermochromatic material. 
     
     
         10 . The roof of  claim 5  having a transition from the first color to the second color that occurs at a threshold temperature. 
     
     
         11 . The roof of  claim 5  having a gradual transition from the first color to the second color with a rise in temperature. 
     
     
         12 . The roof of  claim 5  wherein the outer surface comprises (a) one or more electron-donating, chromatic organic compounds selected from the group consisting of diaryl phthalides, aryl phthalides, indolylphthalides, polyarylcarbinols, leucoauramines, acrylauramines, arylauramines, rhodamine B lactams, indolines, spiropyrans, fluorans, thiofluorans, phenothiazines, triphenylmethanes, diarylarylfurans, spiroxanthenearylfurans, and chromenoindoles, (b) one or more compounds capable of reversibly accepting electrons of said organic compound selected from the group consisting of phenolic hydroxy group-containing compounds and derivatives thereof and carboxyl group-containing compounds and derivatives thereof, (c) one or more compounds controlling the temperature and sensitivity of coloration/decoloration of said thermochromatic material selected from the group consisting of alcohols, esters, ketones, esters, acid amides and carboxylic acids, the ratio of each component to others (a):(b):(c) being 1:0.1 to 10:1 to 100 by weight, and (d) one or more radical cationic compounds selected from the group consisting of N-radical cationic, P-radical cationic, O-radical cationic and S-radical cationic compounds having aromatic ring(s), in an amount of from 0.01 to 5 parts by weight per 1 part by weight of said electron-donating chromatic organic compound, said radical cationic compound interacting with said electron-donating, chromatic organic compound to stabilize said compound, resulting in a thermochromatic material with an improved resistance to light. 
     
     
         13 . The roof of  claim 12  wherein the outer surface is a coating, the coating selected from the group consisting of powder coatings, paint, polymer, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The roof of  claim 13  wherein the coating is a powder coating selected from the material group consisting of epoxies, polyesters, urethanes, nylon, vinyl, polyethylene, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The roof of  claim 13  wherein the outer surface coating is of uniform construction. 
     
     
         16 . The roof of  claim 5  wherein at least one portion of the roof maintains the substantially same color under the first environmental condition and the second environmental condition.