Students: L. Ionescu, R. Kleinjan, I. de Klerk
Tutor: R. Loonen
In this project, students investigated the thermal performance of smart reflective coatings for use in an emergency greenhouse. The research focused on how temperature-responsive polymer coatings could help reduce heat build-up in greenhouse conditions, especially in disaster-affected or conflict areas where access to energy and cooling systems is limited.
The study began with a literature review on plant growing conditions, greenhouse design, and material behaviour, with particular attention to light, temperature, infrared radiation, and reflective coatings. From this, the students developed an experimental setup to test coated and uncoated polycarbonate samples in a controlled climate chamber. By comparing red and transparent samples across a temperature range of 10°C to 65°C, the project explored how the materials responded under changing thermal conditions.
Through luminance measurements, used as an indicator for reflectivity, the students found that the coated samples showed a clearer temperature-related response than the uncoated ones. In particular, the red-coated sample showed a noticeable increase in reflectivity as temperatures rose, suggesting that the coating became more effective under warmer conditions. This points to the potential of smart coatings as a passive climate-control strategy for emergency greenhouse applications. 
Although the experiment also revealed limitations in the testing setup, the research provided valuable insight into the role of responsive materials in greenhouse design. The project demonstrates how building physics research can contribute to the development of lightweight, energy-efficient systems for resilient food production in challenging environments.