A plurality of photocatalytic coated ceramic granules comprising base ceramic granules, each having an outer surface, and a photocatalytic coating disposed on the outer surface. The photocatalytic coating comprising an inorganic binder and a plurality of photocatalytic particles selected from TiO.sub.2, ZnO, Ti(OH).sub.4, doped derivatives thereof and combinations thereof. The photocatalytic particles have a surface area per weight of tire particles of no more than 30 square meters per gram (m.sup.2/g). The coated ceramic granules have a Total Solar Reflectance of at least 0.7.

The present disclosure relates generally to roofing elements and methods for making them. In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a roofing element in the form of a roofing shingle that includes a body of a foamed cured cross-linked polymer, the body having a top surface and a bottom surface, the body extending substantially in a plane and having a thickness in the range of 0.5 mm to 35 mm; and a layer of weather-resistant roofing granules disposed on and adhered at the top surface of roofing element. The roofing element can be made by providing a body of wet foamed curable composition, and allowing the curable composition to cure to provide the body of foamed cured cross-linked polymer.

Granules for a roof coating, wherein said granules comprise particles that have a coating, wherein said coating comprises at least one layer of an inorganic powder in a binder, wherein said inorganic powder has a d50 grain size of from 0.5 to 25 μm, and wherein a hydrophobizing and/or oleophobizing agent is present on said coating.

A reflective particulate material comprises a particulate substrate, and a coating on the particulate substrate. The coated reflective particulate material may have a relative error of an amount of the coating on the particulate substrate of about 5% to about 15%, and/or a dust index of about 5 or lower, and/or a staining loss of about 8% to about 11%. A method of manufacturing the reflective particulate material comprises mixing the particulate substrate with a liquid coating composition to form a wet particulate mixture, passing the wet particulate mixture through at least one heat zone to remove water and/or moisture, and curing the coating material in the coating composition.

A plurality of granules comprising particulate silicate material bonded together with an inorganic binder, the inorganic binder comprising reaction product of at least alkali silicate and hardener, wherein the hardener is at least one of aluminum phosphate, amorphous aluminosilicate, fluorosilicate, Portland cement, or a calcium silicate, wherein the particulate silicate material is present as at least 50 percent by weight of each granule, based on the total weight of the respective granule, wherein each granule has a total porosity in a range from greater than 0 to 50 percent by volume, based on the total volume of the respective granule, and wherein the granules have Tumble Toughness Value of at least 70 before immersion in water and at least 40 after immersion in water at 20° C.±2° C. for two months. The granules are useful, for example, as roofing granules.

The present disclosure relates to roofing granules, such as colored solar-reflective roofing granules, and to methods for making and their use in roofing products. One aspect of the disclosure provides a collection of colored solar-reflective roofing granules, wherein substantially each roofing granule includes an inner layer of a porous ceramic material, the pore size and material of the inner layer being selected such that the inner layer is substantially reflective of infrared radiation; and disposed about and substantially surrounding the inner layer, an outer layer of a substantially colored ceramic material, the outer layer of substantially colored ceramic material being substantially transmissive to infrared radiation, the collection of colored solar-reflective roofing granules having a L* of no more than 60 and a solar reflectivity of at least 30%.

Embodiments may include a coated granule for roofing systems. The coated granule may include an aluminum silicate granule and a coating disposed on the aluminum silicate granule. The coating may include a copolymer and a siloxane-based or a silane-based compound. The copolymer may be a cationic fluorinated (meth)acrylic copolymer. The aluminum silicate granule may have a particle size in a range from 0.2 mm to 2.4 mm. The aluminum silicate granule may have a 65% or greater reflectivity. The coated granule may repel oil and maintain its reflectivity better than with other techniques.

A method for production of coated mineral grit for the manufacture of coating elements with a bituminous support, or with a support comprising a vinyl or acrylic adhesive, for roofing of buildings, the method includes: adding rough mineral grit to a mixer together with a first treatment mixture; mixing the rough mineral grit and the first treatment mixture until a coated mineral grit is obtained; heating the coated mineral grit to a predetermined firing temperature (Tc); and after heating the coated mineral grit, cooling the coated mineral grit to a predetermined intermediate cooling temperature (Tri). The first treatment mixture comprises: water; at least one pigment; at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium silicate and potassium silicate; kaolin; and at least one selected from the group consisting of an organo-siloxane and an organo-silane.

A membrane roofing system that includes a waterproof layer that protects an insulation layer and a granule coupled to the waterproof layer. The granule has a 60% or greater reflectivity that reduces transmission of ultraviolet light to the waterproof layer. The granule is coated in a fluorinated acrylic copolymer that resists adsorption and absorption of asphaltic chemicals by the granule from the waterproof layer.

A method is provided for forming an adhered membrane roof system that meets Factory Mutual (FM) 4470/4474 standards for wind uplift. The method comprises applying a bond adhesive to a substrate on a roof to form an adhesive layer and applying a membrane directly to the adhesive layer. The bond adhesive includes a moisture-curable polymer.