 Insulating walls and roofs, capturing solar energy, optimizing double-paned windows: Arkema’s research combines economy and ecology to reduce the energy expenses of buildings. The result? Budget control, real thermal comfort and an active role in the fight against climate change.
 Harnessing the sun’s power…
Windowed surfaces weaken a building’s thermal insulation. They cause the building to overheat in summer and lose heat in winter. But because the sun’s rays reduce our dependence on artificial light, limiting windows is out of the question. Arkema’s Certincoat® glass treatment offers an effective solution for managing heat flux. Arkema’s Energy, Building and Construction Business Director Bill Luzier explains:
"The CVD [Chemical Vapor Deposition] treatment adds a thin, functional coating to the glass surface. A chemical process is used wherein a chemical vapor is passed over hot glass to apply a layer of metallic oxide to the glass surface. The result? Low-emissivity (Low E) glass that transmits only a small amount of heat." Glass surfaces treated in this way preserve a room’s interior heat by reflecting infrared rays from interior (warm) objects back into a room (heat that would otherwise be lost to the outside) and also reflects a portion of the sun’s heat outward, all while allowing visible light to pass. The building wastes less energy and is easier to heat in winter and cool in summer, resulting in lower energy bills.  …and protecting against its dangers
Roofing is another vulnerable area when it comes to thermal control, particularly the metallic roofs of industrial and commercial buildings. Arkema’s answer? Kynar Aquatec™ . This durable coating uses an acrylic-based Kynar PVDF resin. When applied to metal roofs, it significantly reduces energy expenses by reflecting heat (reducing the need for air conditioning) and insulating buildings (limiting heat loss in winter). In addition to being waterproof, UV-resistant, storm-proof and anti-grime, Kynar AquatecTM increases the longevity of metallic structures.  High-performance double-paned windows that last
Double-paned windows are a fundamental component of insulation founded on a simple principle. They take advantage of the thermal and sonic insulation provided by a layer of air trapped between two panes of glass. The technical challenge is keeping the trapped air perfectly dry to avoid condensation.
Arkema has responded to this need by developing a cutting-edge product called the CECA molecular sieve. Arkema’s Molecular Sieve Business Manager Patrick Alex explains: “The role of the molecular sieve is to trap water molecules (2.6 angstroms (Å) in size)—and only water molecules—using the phenomenon of adsorption*. The use of a molecular sieve in double-paned windows requires that the device be very selective, in order to avoid co-adsorption of surrounding gases (nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon) that are slightly larger in size (3.3-3.6 Å). If this were to occur, the resulting adsorption-desorption cycles would cause temperature variations and lead to premature wear or even destruction of the glass.” |
Once the openings and roof have been insulated, only the walls are left. Many insulation solutions are available in this area. In particular, Arkema offers Forane® , a blowing agent for 
That’s why Arkema is developing an alternative solution: a blowing agent made of 
A number of ecological and renewable insulation solutions are now available (wood, cellulose, hemp, duck feathers). The advantage? They are entirely of vegetable or animal origin. The disadvantage? Centimeter for centimeter, they perform more poorly than 
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