A tufted geosynthetic lightweight ballast system for roof protection in which the system comprises a composite of one or more geotextiles tufted with one or more synthetic yarns.

Photocatalytic roofing granules include a binder and inert mineral particles, with photocatalytic particles dispersed in the binder.

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.

Compositions comprising highly reflective microcrystalline/amorphous materials are provided. In some instances, the highly reflective materials are microcrystalline or amorphous carbonate materials, which may include calcium and/or magnesium carbonate. In some instances, the materials are CO.sub.2 sequestering materials. Also provided are methods of making and using the compositions, e.g., to increase the albedo of a surface, to mitigate urban heat island effects, etc.

The present disclosure relates to roofing granule having a base granule with at least one layer on the base granule that includes hollow glass spheres embedded in a ceramic matrix and a roofing article having a substrate and a plurality of any embodiment of roofing granules described above. The disclosure additionally relates to a roofing granule precursor mixture containing base granules, an aluminum silicate, an alkali metal silicate, and hollow glass spheres. The disclosure also relates to a method of making roofing granules including providing base granules; applying a coating containing hollow glass spheres, an aluminum silicate, an alkali metal silicate to the base granules; and heating the coated granules to a temperature between about 550° F. and about 1000° F.

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a coating composition. The coating composition comprises photocatalytic particles and an alkali metal silicate binder comprising an alkoxysilane. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a coated article. The coated article has a photocatalytic coating with improved durability on its external surface that is formed from the aforesaid coating composition.

A method for distributing granules may include transporting a hopper along a roof while releasing granules through a valve of the hopper, thereby depositing a line of granules on the roof. Another method for distributing granules may include adjusting a valve of a container mounted on a cart, depositing a predetermined width of the granules though the valve onto the roof while driving the cart along a roof, and covering a seam between adjacent sheets of roofing material with the granules. A device for depositing granules on a roof may include a hopper, and a valve, where granules stored in the hopper flow directly through the valve to the roof in response to gravity when the valve is at least partially opened, and where the flow of the granules is not assisted by an agitator, an auger, or air pressure.

A method of making a plurality of composite granules can include: forming green body granules comprising an aluminosilicate; heating the green body granules to form sintered granules; cooling the sintered granules according to a cooling regime, wherein the cooling regime comprises a temperature hold between 700° C. and 900° C. for at least one hour. In a particular embodiment, the aluminosilicate for making the composite granules can have a particle size less than 150 μm. The composite granules are particularly suitable as roofing granules and can have a desired combination of high solar reflectance SR and low lightness L*, a low bulk density, good weather resistance and strength.

An uncolored roofing granule including a low solar absorption base and a low solar absorption and solar opaque coating presented on the base, the coating including a binder, a pigment, wherein the binder includes a curable component and a non-clay, thermally reactive curing agent.

A reflective granular composition including a reflective pigment material including a majority of kaolin clay and a hardening additive including a sodium salt or another salt. A method for making a reflective granular composition includes the steps of mixing together a reflective pigment material including a majority of kaolin clay and a hardening additive including a sodium salt or another salt to form a particulate mixture, forming a slurry from the particulate mixture by adding to the particulate mixture water and a binder material, granulating the slurry, drying the granulated slurry, and kilning the dried, granulated slurry to form the reflective granular composition. Methods of analyzing the strength of a reflective granular composition are also disclosed.