The world’s largest bauxite mining company, Alcoa is on the verge of launching a product – coil coated architectural panel to be more precise, which is definitely going to change not just the face of the construction industry but also provide a sustainable solution towards cleansing of air. Set to debut on May 12 at New Orleans, USA, at the AIA 2011 National Convention and Design Exposition, Reynobond with EcoClean as it is being promoted as, is the result of expertise, commitment and dedication to R&D that Alcoa possesses with regards to the environment and aluminum industry.
The product – Reynobond with EcoClean, a first of its kind was created through a collaborative effort of Alcoa and the Japanese company Toto. The proprietary process thereby developed used the patented “Hydrotect” technology developed by Toto whereby a coating of titanium dioxide was applied on a pre-painted aluminum surface of Reynobond. The resulting aluminum panel when exposed to sunlight was capable of acting as a catalyst which could break down organic pollutants that were in the nearby aerial vicinity or which managed to lodge onto its surface. The end-products of the reaction were observed to be harmless matter which in the course of time would easily be washed off by rainwater.
Designed to provide an economically viable and sustainable self-cleaning technology, this product/technology can help reduce maintenance costs by assisting in decomposition of smog and a variety of air pollutants right from diesel fumes to dirt, which are known to clutch onto building surfaces. Alcoa even claims that 10,000 square feet of Reynobond with EcoClean has as much cleansing capacity as 80 trees. If true this technological break-through promises widespread ramifications considering that the resulting process is passive in nature and consumes no energy at all. This is all the more significant as only in U.S., 80 billion square feet of commercial building space consumes almost 20 percent of the total energy made available.
The product, if successful, points out the importance of strategic investments especially in the field of R&D when it comes to mitigating environmental challenges through sustainable development. Alcoa must therefore no doubt be complimented for making a significant effort towards attempting to change the very frontage of the architecture and construction industry.
Via: BusinessWire
