Colored roofing granules with increased solar heat reflectance, solar heat-reflective shingles and process for producing same

1. A roofing product comprising a mixture of conventional roofing granules and colored infrared reflective rooting granules, the colored infrared reflective roofing granules being selected from the group consisting of

(a) granules comprising base particles comprising inert mineral particles coated with a cured first coating composition comprising including a base particle binder and at least one colorant selected from the group consisting of uv-stabilized dyes and granule coloring pigments, the base particles being coated with a cured second coating composition comprising a coating binder and at least one infrared-reflective functional pigment;

(b) granules comprising base particles comprising inert mineral particles coated with a cured first coating composition including a base particle binder and at least one reflective white pigment, the base particles being coated with a cured second coating composition including a coating binder, and at least one colorant selected from the group consisting of pigments with near infrared transparency;

(c) granules comprising inert base particles with size passing #8 mesh and retaining on #70 mesh coated with a cured coating composition comprising a coating binder and at least one colored, infrared-reflective pigment;

(d) granules comprising base particles with size passing #8 mesh and retaining on #70 mesh coated with a cured coating composition comprising a coating binder and at least one colored, infrared-reflective pigment wherein the base particles comprise mineral particles coated with a cured base coating composition including a base particle binder, and at least one reflective white pigment;

(e) granules comprising base particles comprising inert mineral particles coated with a cured first coating composition including a base particle binder and at least one reflective white pigment, the base particles being coated with a cured second coating composition including a coating binder, and at least one colorant selected from the group consisting of uv-stabilized dyes and granule coloring pigments;

(f) granules comprising inert mineral particles coated with a cured first coating composition including a base particle binder and at least one colorant selected from the group consisting of uv-stabilized dyes and granule coloring pigments to form base particles, the base particles being coated with a cured second coating composition including a coating binder and at least one infrared-reflective functional pigment selected from the group consisting of light-interference platelet pigments including mica, light-interference platelet pigments including titanium dioxide, mirrorized silica pigments based upon metal-doped silica, and alumina; and

(g) combinations thereof.

2. A roofing product according to claim 1 , wherein the roofing product comprises a shingle.

3. A roofing product according to claim 1 , wherein the roofing product comprises a roll good.

4. A roofing product according to claim 1 , wherein the roofing product comprises a membrane.

5. A roofing product according to claim 1 , wherein the roofing product comprises a bituminous rooting product.

6. A roofing product according to claim 1 , wherein the roofing product comprises a bituminous coating material.

7. A roofing product according to claim 1 , wherein the roofing granules are adhered to a shingle stock material.

8. A roofing product according to claim 1 , wherein the roofing product has an L* of less than 55.

9. A roofing product according to claim 1 , wherein the roofing product has a solar reflectance great than 25%.

10. A roofing product according to claim 1 , wherein the colored, infrared-reflective roofing granules have a solar heat reflectance of at least about 25% and an L* of less than 55, and comprise an infrared-reflective coating layer comprising a coating binder, at least one infrared-reflective functional pigment, and at least one spacing pigment.

11. A roofing product according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one spacing pigment comprises silicic acid.

12. A roofing product according to claim 1 , wherein the colored, infrared-reflective roofing granules further comprise inert mineral particles coated with a cured first coating composition including a base particle binder and at least one colorant selected from the group consisting of uv-stabilized dyes and granule coloring pigments, the cured first coating composition being coated with the infrared-reflective coating layer.

13. A process for preparing a roofing product, the process comprising:

(a) providing a mixture of conventional roofing granules and colored infrared reflective roofing granules; the colored infrared reflective roofing granules being selected from the group consisting of:

(1) granules comprising base particles comprising inert mineral particles coated with a cured first coating composition comprising including a base particle binder and at least one colorant selected from the group consisting of uv-stabilized dyes and granule coloring pigments, the base particles being coated with a cured second coating composition comprising a coating binder and at least one infrared-reflective functional pigment;

(2) granules comprising base particles comprising inert mineral particles coated with a cured first coating composition including a base particle binder and at least one reflective white pigment, the base particles being coated with a cured second coating composition including a coating binder, and at least one colorant selected from the group consisting of pigments with near infrared transparency;

(3) granules comprising inert base particles with size passing #8 mesh and retaining on #70 mesh coated with a cured coating composition, a coating binder and at least one colored, infrared-reflective pigment;

(4) granules comprising base particles with size passing #8 mesh and retaining on 470 mesh coated with a cured coating composition comprising a coating binder and at least one colored; infrared-reflective pigment wherein the base particles comprise mineral particles coated with a cured base coating composition including a base particle binder, and at least one reflective white pigment;

(5) granules comprising base particles comprising inert mineral particles coated with a cured first coating composition including a base particle binder and at least one reflective white pigment, the base particles being coated with a cured second coating composition including a coating binder, and at least one colorant selected from the group consisting of uv-stabilized dyes and granule coloring pigments;

(6) granules comprising inert mineral particles coated with a cured first coating composition including a base particle binder and at least one colorant selected from the group consisting of uv-stabilized dyes and granule coloring pigments to form base particles, the base particles being coated with a cured second coating composition including a coating binder and at least one infrared-reflective functional pigment selected from the group consisting of light-interference platelet pigments including mica, light-interference platelet pigments including titanium dioxide, mirrorized silica pigments based upon metal-doped silica, and alumina; and

(7) combinations thereof; and

(b) adhering the mixture of roofing granules to a shingle stock material.

14. A process according to claim 13 , wherein the step of providing a mixture of conventional roofing granules and colored infrared roofing granules comprises:

(a) coating colored roofing granules with a coating composition including a coating binder and at least one infrared-reflective functional pigment selected from the group consisting of light-interference platelet pigments including mica, light-interference platelet pigments including titanium dioxide, mirrorized silica pigments based upon metal-doped silica, and alumina; and

(b) curing the coating binder to provide the colored infrared reflective rooting granules.

15. A process according to claim 13 , wherein the roofing product comprises a shingle.

16. A process according to claim 13 , wherein the roofing product has an L* of less than 55.

17. A process according to claim 14 , wherein the roofing product has a solar reflectance greater than 25%.

18. A process according to claim 13 , wherein the roofing product has a solar reflectance greater than 25%.

19. A process according to claim 18 , wherein the roofing product has an L* of less than 55.