Objective
Superhydrophobic or hydrophobia coatings have been used in the recent years for several applications, such as easy-to-clean surfaces. Since 2001, photocatalytic self-cleaning glazing have been launched on the European market. These latter products are base d on the photocatalytic property of a thin layer of TiU2 deposited at the surface of the glass. When exposed to UVA radiations, TÌ02 reacts with the oxygen and water molecules present in the atmosphere to produce free radicals leading to oxidative species. These species are able to degrade organic stains adsorbed on the surface into volatile molecules. Both technologies gather products designated by the general term of "self-cleaning". At the moment, self-cleaning glazing are only tested according to existi ng appropriate national or international standards to qualify optical and energetic properties. In building applications for example, these new glazing must pass the EN-1096 standard. But there are no certified nor normalized tests to evaluate the self-cle aning performances of these products. hi order to define appropriate tests for the self-cleaning properties of nano-structured surfaces, the project will be based on three main achievements. - The acquisition of a thorough understanding of the real soiling mechanisms at microscale level on glass and self cleaning coated glass. - The enhancement of fundamental knowledge on the interactions between self cleaning coating ability and pollutants, occurring at a nano scale level. The development of measurement me thods for self cleaning ability and the carrying out of a prenormative study on glass soiling and self cleaning glass. A certification test definition for self-cleaning properties, based on the benefits they bring to customers will be provided.
Fields of science
Keywords
Call for proposal
FP6-2002-NMP-1
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Funding Scheme
STREP - Specific Targeted Research ProjectCoordinator
AUBERVILLIERS
France