Aluminet shade cloth is available in fabricated form complete with webbing on all sides with eyelets together with bungee cords for easy installation and even as unfabricated cloth roll. The fabric consists of a knitted screen that offers cooler shade that is much more effective than the traditional black cloth used for shading. The Aluminet heat screens have become so popular that when thinking about shades and shading people would hardly look beyond it. And there are a few reasons for it that you will understand better on going through this article.
To know about different types of Aluminet shade net, you can look up the website of Stoneshade tarp, the online shop that markets the product.
Heat load reduction in greenhouse
Aluminet excels as a shade material due to its high reflective properties that bounces heat away and keeps the shade cool. When the sunrays strike the fabric, it reflects sharply at the same angle unlike black fabric that absorbs the radiation and passes the heat below into the shaded area. Black fabric used for shades thus heats up the area under the shade whereas Aluminet material keeps the shade cool. Green house requires microclimate control that Aluminet shading helps to achieve. It also helps in moderation of temperature during the day and night. It is possible to get the same results with black cloth shading only but with proper arrangement for ventilation that would only increase the cost and make the process complex.
Providing a thermal blanket
The physical process of cooling of any object including the earth surface consists of release of long wave, infrared radiation. On clear nights, the radiation dissipates into the atmosphere but on cloudy nights some of the radiation reflects to the earth after hitting the clouds thereby increasing the earth temperature than on clear nights that are cooler. The same phenomenon happens in greenhouses. Plants and flowers radiate heat at night. When you install an Aluminet shade, the heat reflects from the shade surface and reaches back to the plants and flowers thereby keeping the canopy warmer. The Aluminet shade acts like a blanket for retaining heat and provides a blanket cover. As the temperature under the canopy is warm, it reduces condensation of moisture on the leaves. Since Aluminet shade material uses knitted fabric it allows air to pass through that facilitates hot air movement towards the roof vents.
More diffused light
Aluminet screens are excellent in allowing partial entry to sunlight thereby ensuring entry of diffused light to the area under the shade that forms the plant canopy. Because Aluminet is reflective, it allows much of the low angle light that hits the surface to pass through while reflecting the rays that strike at sharper angles. It creates a diffusive effect as only a part of the light passes through the shade during early morning and afternoon. This is excellent for tall canopy crops that receives uniform and constant light with minimal shadows within the greenhouse that results in higher yields. Since diffused light reaches the lower canopy it facilitates branching of plants.
Once you use Aluminet, you will never think of using any other shade material.