This means that there is aluminium cladding that is both economic and environmentally friendly. With the aid of the sun and moisture, it renders particles of dirt and smog harmless, thereby contributing to cleaning the cladding itself as well as the surrounding air.
This self-cleaning capability means that cleaning costs are reduced over a building’s lifetime. On the other hand, manufacture is slightly more involved, but this has only a minimal impact on the overall price of the cladding. Depending on the type of cladding system, Alcoa assesses the increase in price as between 1.5 and 5 percent. There is no increase in effort or time for processing and installation specialists, however. Reynobond®|Reynolux® with EcoClean™ is just as easy to process and fit as traditional cladding products.
In addition, the building is rendered more attractive, and permanently so, as the cladding will continue to keep ridding itself of dirt.
To its powers of self-cleaning must be added that of air-cleaning. 1,000 m2 of Reynobond®|Reynolux® with EcoClean™ disperse as much smog as approximately 80 trees. This is equivalent to the daily emissions of four cars. In terms of the environmental audit, EcoClean™ cladding represents an interesting factor for any investor interested in conveying a positive image.
This is how the new coating works. Under the incidence of sunlight, the light-sensitive titanium dioxide coating, called EcoClean™, acts as a catalyst, even in conditions of low humidity. On the surface, the electrons released by the UV light form radicals, and these break down organic substances such as bird lime, moss, exhaust fumes and smog particles. At the same time a superhydrophilic (water-attracting) and extremely smooth surface is formed. Even with just small amounts of rain or dew, the substances that have been broken down simply slide off the building, leaving a clean façade behind.
For four years researchers at the American parent group Alcoa have been working on transferring the titanium dioxide-based Hydrotect™ technology of the Japanese firm Toto® to coated aluminium. Up until now, titanium dioxide could only be applied to specific surfaces such as concrete, glass, plastic and ceramic, as it attacks all organic matter, including finishing coatings. The method developed by Alcoa, however, for which a patent is pending, prevents destruction of the finish coat and allows titanium dioxide to be applied to Reynobond® aluminium composite panels and Reynolux® aluminium sheet.
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