New Nano Tec' Hydrophillic Window Coatings

A nanoparticle-based coating from ARS, applied to the right half of this plastic container, prevents water from beading and reducing visibility.

Nanoparticle based coating helps stop water from beading: When rain falls on a glass window or a plastic skylight cover, it often forms beads. That's because these surfaces typically are hydrophobic, meaning they repel water. But a transparent, nanoparticle-based coating developed by Agricultural Research Service scientists can quickly change surfaces from hydrophobic to hydrophilic, so that rain doesn't bead up, and your visibility isn't impaired.

When raindrops come in contact with the spray-on coating, they spread, instead of beading, explains chemist Sanghoon Kim, who headed the nanoparticle studies. Besides its potential use on windows, the coating might also be applied to solar panels, to help keep dirt from interfering with their performance. What's more, Kim and colleagues have observed that the coating works well on other materials, including Plexiglas and metals such as stainless steel.

Kim, chemist Atanu Biswas, and physical scientist Kervin Evans—all at the ARS National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, Illinois—created the coating's nanoparticles using only a few off-the-shelf laboratory chemicals, including an ag-sourced protein. From start to finish, production of the nanoparticles takes less than an hour, involves simple procedures with inexpensive chemicals, and doesn't require specialized equipment or costly heating.

In a proof-of-concept experiment, the researchers used bovine serum albumin as their protein and ethyl cyanoacrylate as the starting material that's key to creating the nanoparticles. Bovine serum albumin is a cattle industry coproduct. Ethyl cyanoacrylate is a major component of what's commonly known as "super glue." Simply stated, the nanoparticles were formed when ethyl cyanoacrylate reacted with bovine serum albumin in a solution of acidified ethanol. Spinning this mixture in a centrifuge removed any byproducts of the reaction, resulting in nanoparticles suspended in the solution.

Applying the coating is quick and easy. All that's needed is to spray it onto clean glass or other recommended surface, then rinse with water. Kim, Biswas, and Evans documented their results in a peer-reviewed scientific article published in 2013 in Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces.

In a followup study, Kim and colleague Yeon Seok Kim, of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, used gliadin—a protein from wheat—to demonstrate that their process is applicable to both plant- and animal-derived proteins. An article published this year in the Journal of Nanoparticle Research has details.

Typically, plant proteins are less expensive than those from animal sources. Regardless of which agricultural source is chosen, informal cost estimates suggest that the new coating could be made at the same or less cost than hydrophilic coatings already on the market.

The fact that the Peoria coating is rain-ready in about a minute apparently makes it unique. ARS is seeking a patent for the research, and the scientists are looking for industry partners, such as manufacturers of window cleaning products, to commercialize the invention.

The uncoated section (left) of a glass slide is peppered with water droplets whereas the coated section (right) has a thin film of water that makes the glass clear.

Scientists create clearer glass with permanent, superhydrophilic ceramic coating: When it comes to fogged up glassware or windows, the best way to keep a clear view seems to be by wiping the water droplets away constantly or having coatings that prevent the water from sticking to the glass. However, scientists at A*STAR's Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) have discovered that doing just the opposite - collecting the water to create a uniform, thin, transparent layer - actually helps produce a better, clearer view.

IMRE has invented a new technology, CleanClear, which is a durable and permanent ceramic coating that is transparent and superhydrophilic, which means it attracts water instead of repelling it. This creates a layer of water that prevents fogging on glass or plastic surfaces, and keeps surfaces cleaner for a longer period of time. Water-forming coatings create an additional uniform water layer to produce a better view as opposed to water-repelling technologies that form water droplets which impair vision.

Reduced visibility from fogged up glass or plastic surfaces is a common problem in wet or humid environments, and affects a multitude of products such as car windshields, spectacles, goggles, and even covers for cookware. The majority of solutions rely on water-repelling coatings. Unfortunately, current coatings are not durable and most have to be re-applied regularly.

How the technology works:

The new patented technology from A*STAR's IMRE is a one-time ceramic coating that can be applied onto glass or plastic materials at processing temperatures below 100oC. This is important as it makes the coating process simpler and ultimately, more cost-effective. Currently, commonly used chemical coatings degrade easily with continued usage and have to be re-applied. IMRE's new ceramic coating is durable, permanent and only needs to be applied once. Although there are also other similar "water-loving" coatings, these are often processed at much higher temperatures and can only be activated by ultraviolet (UV) rays or sunlight.

Large multinational companies also use alternative coatings like titanium dioxide (TiO2) to produce self-cleaning glass surfaces that prevent dirt and dust from sticking. However, the TiO2 ceramic coats can only be applied on surfaces during the manufacturing process at temperatures above 600oC. This limits their application to hard materials like glass. CleanClear can be adapted to multiple surfaces and materials, ranging from glass to plastics. TiO2 coatings are also activated by sunlight but IMRE's new coating does not require activation and continues to function even at night and in low-light, indoor environments.

There are many useful applications for IMRE's "water-loving" surface. For example, it can be applied on car windshields, mirrors and motorcycle visors, allowing for better visibility in the rain. Coating building exteriors with this new material allows for self-cleaning during rain. Due to its adaptability for application on various surfaces besides glass, this could also result in potential cost savings. CleanClear can also be applied to consumer products to reduce condensation on glass covers for pots, food containers and hot food displays.

"Conventional technologies mainly use organic-based materials and some with nanoparticles but these don't last long, and need to be re-coated from time to time. The CleanClear process makes the coating part of the surface – permanently," said Dr Gregory Goh, the lead scientist from IMRE who developed the technology last year.

"CleanClear could be used to help create a sort of a clear 'vision shield' for today's car windshields during heavy rain," added Dr Goh. "Or we could use it to replace current daytime, UV light activated coatings with an all-day, all-night CleanClear coat on building facades to keep glass cleaner."

Glass News For the Discerning Window Cleaner

Glass roof falls, buries parking lot: One person is trapped after a glass canopy on top of an apartment building garage in New Jersey caved in, causing the entire structure to collapse.
Rescuers were able to see the victim inside their car using special camera equipment but have not been able to reach them amid fears of another collapse. There are reports up to three people have also been buried with witnesses describing the moment the garage collapsed as "like an earthquake". The latest collapse happened around 2:30 p.m. Saturday while crews were removing rubble, glass and other debris from the Hackensack site. It came one day after the three-story garage had pancaked when a glass canopy attached to a nearby high-rise condominium building fell on it. Officials initially feared that at least one person was trapped in the wreckage and began intensive rescue efforts. But the 22-hour rescue mission was called off Saturday morning after it was determined that no one had been trapped. Crews were briefly removed from the site after Saturday's collapse, but were expected to return to work later in the day.

NanaWall Systems, the leader in large opening glass walls, announces the launch of its hurricane system for mid-rise buildings: The NanaWall® SL73 Miami Dade/AAMA Hurricane Folding System. The NanaWall SL73 offers the beauty of a large opening NanaWall combined with hurricane protection for buildings up to 8 to 10 stories. With its higher performance ratings, the same NanaWall features and benefits available for low rises in hurricane areas are now available for mid rises in hurricane areas: The NanaWall SL73 has the following additional features and benefits: Design Flexibility From mid rise multi family or office buildings to single family residences, restaurants, spas and resorts, reception halls and recreation facilities, the SL73 is ideal for creating large opening walls for coastal communities.

Man builds glass house: If you thought you could build a house using only brick and mortar, then this one will definitely blow your mind. Felix Gora (55) of Cranborne Harare, is currently building an enormous house entirely from glass. His innovation has set tongues wagging, with people saying he should not even think of throwing stones. Gora has transformed his seven-roomed house into a majestic work of glass art covering all the house’s interior and exterior walls. He attributes this craftsmanship to his desire for bringing to life the reality of “glass communication”. “There are so many glasses in here, but they are not just meaningless and plain,” says Gora. “Every piece of glass here serves a purpose and is structured well for that purpose.” “My house is an expression of purposeful work with a meaning and a message.” Even his bed is surrounded by glass – a scenario that would make an ordinary person get goose pimples.
All his wardrobes and other pieces of furniture in the three bedrooms are made of glass, including wooden surfaces that have glass glued to them. It is almost impossible for strangers visiting Gora’s house to move without bumping into some glass. In fact, one cannot tell whether they are coming or going because of the optical illusion created by the glass surfaces. Glass surrounds a bar in the house and a small upper room is entirely made of glass. The same can be said of the kitchen where impressive glass images are evident. And Gora has abandoned traditional curtains for glass. “It is not ordinary glass, but it is structural glass that was put here to capture a meaning,” he said. Gora described the glass as solar-shield glass which he said was very expensive. “This place is an expression of everything l do. This type of glass is called solar-shield or Venetia glass, one of the most expensive that enables one to see from inside, but when you are outside you see nothing,” he said indicating that he did not need curtains as the glass would serve the same purpose.
Gora said he was not yet through with construction and would continue until his dream was realised. “We want to put life to it. It is still very well much under construction,” said the soft spoken former Churchill High School metalwork teacher. He said his house was once used as a home to Danger, a character in the popular Studio 263 soap. Even popular musician Andy Brown used to rehearse there. But Gora’s “House of Glass” is yet to find a woman of the house. He said he was still hunting for Miss Right. “I am not yet married but l would love to be,” he said jokingly.

Rowan Atkinson's dream home is a nightmare; Oh no, not Rowan Atkinson, too. I’d have thought a clever man – and a comic genius – would know better. Pictured are his plans to replace his 1930s house in Oxfordshire with a steel and glass monstrosity designed by Richard Meier, the famous American designer of steel and glass monstrosities.
I lived opposite a Meier building in New York. It had wonderful views over the Hudson River, but that was only to be expected in a building that was almost entirely glass, connected by thin struts of steel. Not only was it hideous, it was also utterly see-through – kind of difficult for the zillionaires inside to preserve their modesty; and hell to heat in winter and keep cool in the summer.
Architecture is the most public of all the arts. You may not like Damien Hirst or Tracey Emin but at least the zillionaires who buy their pictures keep them inside their houses, and no one has to see them. Hideous architecture is inflicted on any passer-by whether he likes it or not.
Atkinson’s 30s house isn’t that pretty, I admit. But at least it fits perfectly well into the Oxfordshire landscape, with a pretty enough loggia and hipped roof; the Meier building, understandably objected to by the local parish council and conservation body, is like a space ship that has been airlifted in from Planet Ugly.

Top Secret Innovations at the Bystronic glass Stand: Innovative and flying high at glasstec 2010 - The Bystronic glass Group will be presenting numerous innovations at the glasstec trade fair that is taking place in Düsseldorf from 28 September to 1 October 2010. Richard Jakob, CEO of the Bystronic glass Group revealed: “ In addition to numerous new and more sophisticated machines, we will also be presenting our customers with some exclusive innovations in our Top Secret area“. This closed area will only be accessible to invited or registered guests when accompanied by the Bystronic glass sales staff. On its stand which covers an area of 1,200 square metres, Bystronic glass will be presenting system solutions for glass processing in the areas of building and automotive glass, not forgetting the solar industry. Moderated live machine presentations will enable visitors to gain an insight into the fascinating technologies.

Emirates Float Glass (EFG), a subsidiary of Glass LLC which is wholly owned by Dubai Investments PJSC, has announced that it has received the CE Mark certification – the regulatory approval to market a product in the European Economic Area (EEA) - for its range of clear, bronze and grey float glass products. Emirates Float Glass is the first glass manufacturer in the Middle East to receive CE Mark certification for its products.
Ghassan Mashal, General Manager of Emirates Float Glass, received the certification on behalf of the company from Nigel Rees, CEO of the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF), the UK-based global trade association representing the glass industry, at a ceremony held in Dubai recently. “This is an important milestone in EFG’s pursuit in becoming a truly world-class company,” Ghassan Mashal said. “The certification allows us to affix the CE Mark – which denotes conformity to the highest standards of quality and safety – on our products and will enable us to market our range of float glass in countries throughout the European Economic Area.”
“Since its inception in 2009, EFG has striven to maintain consistently high standards of quality across its product range. Our products are currently exported to more than 35 countries around the world, and the CE Mark approval will allow us to make new inroads into high-potential European markets and further extend our global reach,” Mashal added. EFG already exports products to several European countries including Spain, Italy, Ukraine, and the Netherlands.
EFG’s range of clear, bronze and grey float glass were certified by TNO, Netherlands - a leading independent provider of quality assurance and evaluation services - under European Standards EN 410 and EN 572 –Part 1.
The CE Mark is a mandatory conformity mark on products placed on the single market in the European Economic Area. The CE Mark certifies that a product has met EU consumer safety, health or environmental requirements. EFG is the largest integrated glass processing facility in the UAE with a capacity of 190,000 tons per annum under phase 1 of the project. The plant was built with technological assistance from US-based PPG Industries, the global leaders in glass manufacturing technology. EFG’s Board of Directors is currently reviewing its strategic plans to speed up expansion under phase 2, which will significantly increase the company’s production capacity.


Can an All-Glass Office Building Really Be Considered Green? For decades, modern office buildings have been pretty much covered in glass curtain walls. Some are high performance and very expensive, like the super-green LEED Platinum Bank of America Building at 1 Bryant Park in New York, or they can be the standard crappy suburban office building thrown up across North America, looking the same in California or Calgary. But as Steve Mouzon points out, even the very best glazing has an R-value that is equivalent to a 2x4 wall with fiberglass insulation, something that nobody has built for years. Most office buildings don't even approach a third of that. So why do architects design buildings this way?
Alex Wilson at Environmental Building News looks at the issue in Rethinking the All-Glass Building (subscription only). He writes: Some of the world's most prominent "green" skyscrapers, including New York City's One Bryant Park (the LEED Platinum Bank of America skyscraper) and the New York Times Tower, wear the mantle of green with transparent façades. But there is a high environmental cost to all that glitter: increased energy consumption. Until new glazing technologies make technical solutions more affordable, many experts suggest that we should collectively end our infatuation with heavily glazed, all-glass buildings. Alex summarizes some of the reasons that glass buildings are so popular, some of which I think are questionable, bordering on ludicrous.
But you can have too much of a good thing, and in most buildings the glass is tinted or mirrored to reduce the amount of daylight. At One Bryant Place, the glass is covered with a ceramic frit (pictured) to reduce the daylight penetration; in the New York Times Building, it is covered with ceramic rods to reduce the amount of light. Any light below desktop height is pretty much wasted. So claiming that floor to ceiling glazing increases the amount of daylight is a bit specious, you can't possibly use that much of it. Ultimately, as Steve Mouzon notes, you don't need more than a third of the wall to be glazed to get all the light you could use. Other architects might counter that you get a better connection to outdoors if you frame a view like a picture. Or that this only applies to the lucky employee sitting right next to the window; for everyone else that glass below the desk height is meaningless.
Really. So "transparent" gets picked up as corporate jargon and suddenly we are designing buildings around it? And with the tints and the blinds and the mirroring, can anyone actually see in? I think the reasons are simpler: laziness. In most cases, the architect is no longer really designing the exterior of a building, worrying about proportion and detailing and materiality, he or she is simply outsourcing the design to a curtainwall supplier. It looks really good on a rendering, and makes it easier to get approvals; the simple, reflective skin disappears against the sky. It is easier to administer; one trade is providing the entire skin of the building. It's thinner; the client gets more rentable square feet. So what if it is an energy hog, the tenant pays for that, not the owner.
In general, heavily glazed buildings consume more energy than buildings with more moderate levels of glass. With a higher glazing fraction, solar heat gain as well as heat loss in cold weather are both greater. Glass does introduce daylighting, of course, and well-executed daylighting can reduce both electric lighting and mechanical cooling costs but the ideal percentage of glazing is far below that of many of today's prominent all-glass buildings. Alex concludes by saying that "a growing body of experts in sustainable design argues that our architectural aesthetic should evolve away from all-glass façades." But it will take a new breed of architects, who know something about commodity, firmness and delight as well as the difference between a north and a south facade.
After I wrote favourably about the New York Times building two years ago, with its floor to ceiling glass, Green Architect disagreed with my admiration of the ceramic tube sun shading, with a comment that I will repeat here in full; his comment seems more appropriate than ever, and my response now seems particularly stupid. You've fallen for the "Hybrid-SUV" trap, Mr Alter. The ceramic sun shade isn't solving an unavoidable environmental problem. It is mitigating the problem caused by the overuse of glass. Like the SUV, "transparent" buildings have become a cultural icon. In both instances there are techniques that can lessen their environmental impact, but clear-minded individuals ought not be lulled away from questioning the necessity of the underlying practice. Every "benefit" of the sun shade (reduced solar gain, internal reflectance, ect.) could be achieved much more effectively by properly proportioned glazing and a light-shelf, and use materials representing drastically less embodied energy. A poorly designed building that employs mitigating features is not "green". As a green architect, I expected better out of a Treehugger contributor.
LA: Your point is well taken. Here I took the Times at their word that they thought about it: "The New York Times selected a design that codified its philosophy of a "transparent" organization and one dedicated to creating a high quality work environment for their employees. The exterior of the building was proposed as a transparent floor-to-ceiling, all-glass façade that encouraged openness and communication with the external world. For a corporation whose daily business is gathering and disseminating news, facile communication between departments was encouraged by a number of the design features selected."

Platinum group metals (PGMs) have been used for many years in the glass industry. But, now the use of PGMs in glass industry has gone up. According to reports appearing in global media, due to an increase in use of glass in all areas, the use of PGMs in glass making has also gone up.
This will result in a rise in demand for PGMs. According to reports, glass industry will more platinum group metals in the coming years and this may cause a rise in prices of the metals. Due to their high melting points and superior resistance to corrosion, PGMs are invaluable for protecting manufacturing equipment from attack by molten glass and corrosive vapours. Although the initial cost of PGMs may be high, they are fully recyclable and, depending on the product, 95% to 98% of the metal can usually be recovered and converted into revenue once the useful life of the component is over. This has helped people use the metal in the industry.

Baghdad Nights Glitter, Behind Shatterproof Glass: However loudly you protest, you still have to check your gun at the restaurant’s door. (Customers take valet tickets in return.) Guards in tight jeans and tighter shirts patrol the entrance, toting that ubiquitous paraphernalia of authority here: a walkie-talkie. Even cavalier guests cast leery glances down the road for a car that could be rigged with a bomb.
Antoine al-Hage, capitalism’s equivalent of a soldier of fortune, smiles at it all — the danger, the risk and, of course, the payoff of bringing nightlife to “Where there’s war,” he said, “there’s lots of money.” A slew of new restaurants have opened in the capital this year, from Tomorrow and Tool al-Lail to Toast and City Chief, offering a respite for a city spectacularly bereft of night-time destinations. All have evolved to the conditions of contemporary Baghdad, a city that teases with hints of the ordinary but remains a barricaded warren of blast walls and barbed wire. Namely, nearly all boast of having thick shatterproof glass.
Red, golds and browns accent the chrome, leather, glass and faux alligator skin on the columns. The marble came from Lebanon, the parquet from Dubai and the furniture from Indonesia. A big-screen television is fastened to two-story windows that open to a triple-decked patio. There, patrons gaze on a view of the Tigris that was once the preserve of the palaces for Saddam Hussein’s wife and brother-in-law.

A*STAR Showcases Innovative Solutions for Tackling Urban Living Challenges at World Cities Summit 2010: industry attention as they are effective and environmental-friendly. A*STAR's Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) has successfully built a pilot production plant to produce a TiO2 photocatalytic solution, and commercialised the technology. Sunlight, in particular the ultra violet component, activates the titanium dioxide to trigger the self-cleaning process.
Two unique properties of TiO2 enable this: its high oxidation power breaks down dirt and unwanted material, while its super-hydrophilicity repels water to drain off rain and with it the oxidized material, from coated surfaces. This technology allows a dramatic reduction in building maintenance costs and resources. The TiO2 coating lasts for up to three years, and surfaces can be recoated when it wears off. This technology is highly suitable for countries like Singapore with year-round sunshine and high precipitation to facilitate such a cleaning process.
Exterior surfaces which can benefit from this are painted areas, tiles, glass windows and panels, and other glass surfaces that are exposed to sunlight. E. Efficient Conversion of Industrial Organic byproducts into Biogas The lignocellulose-based bioethanol and FAME (fatty acid methyl esters) biodiesel industries generate a large amount of byproducts such as xylose, arabinose and glycerol.
Converting these cheap and renewable carbon sources into value-added fuel such as biogas (methane and CO2), creates great commercial value: cheaper and greener waste management is encouraged, and supplants the need to bury them in landfills, which are highly costly spaces. Biogas, which is a low-cost biofuel, can be used directly to produce thermal energy, or it can be used to power a gas or diesel engine to run a generator to produce electricity.

Sick Building Syndrome - Window Cleaners Beware

Sick Building Syndrome - What is it? Symptoms:

Building occupants complain of symptoms such as sensory irritation of the eyes, nose, throat; neurotoxic or general health problems; skin irritation; nonspecific hypersensitivity reactions; and odor and taste sensations. Several sick occupants may report individual symptoms which do not appear to be connected. The key to discovery is the increased incidence of illnesses in general with onset or exacerbation within a fairly close time frame - usually within a period of weeks. In most cases, SBS symptoms will be relieved soon after the occupants leave the particular room or zone. However, there can be lingering effects of various neurotoxins, which may not clear up when the occupant leaves the building. In particularly sensitive individuals, the potential for long-term health effects should not be overlooked.

Sick building causes are frequently pinned down to flaws in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Other causes have been attributed to contaminants produced by outgassing of some types of building materials, volatile organic compounds (VOC), molds, improper exhaust ventilation of ozone (byproduct of some office machinery), light industrial chemicals used within, or fresh-air intake location / lack of adequate air filtration. Symptoms are often dealt with after-the-fact by boosting the overall turn-over rate of fresh air exchange with the outside air.



Working night and day for a healthier office: Pollutants found inside office buildings can be converted into less harmful substances by a photochemical device that works continuously from night to day, claim scientists in Japan. This could prevent cases of sick building syndrome. Sick building syndrome is a combination of acute health and comfort issues that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, often in an office. This can be caused by inadequate ventilation or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as formaldehyde that are emitted by chemical contaminants from carpeting, upholstery, manufactured wood products, or photocopying machines and cleaning agents.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalysts have been applied to environmental remediation and self-cleaning coatings. However, most only work under UV light, which means they don't operate during the night. Now, Tetsu Tatsuma and colleagues at Tokyo University have overcome this problem by designing a photocatalyst with the ability to store photochemical energy. Tatsuma's photocatalyst has two layers; an TiO2 underlayer and an Ni(OH)2 overlayer. As the light is shone onto the device, its energy can be captured by the TiO2 underlayer and stored in the Ni(OH)2 overlayer. This stored energy is used to oxidise harmful VOCs, in particular formaldehyde, into less innocuous carbon dioxide and water, at any time.

In practice, Tatsuma expects the device to trap the harmful VOCs on the TiO2-Ni(OH)2 film during the night, then in the morning light, the pollutants are oxidised into less harmful by-products. Tatsuma has high hopes for his device and says 'we hope to apply it to private houses, offices and factories as coatings in curtains, window blinds and ceilings'. This device has the potential to improve indoor air quality and reduce the risk of illness by removing formaldehyde from the work environment. Mark Clayton, a Public Health Service Officer from the US EPA Indoor Environments Division, believes that this system 'could represent a significant advance in potentially reducing airborne concentrations of chemical compounds commonly found in an environment where most people spend 90 percent of their time. Employment of such a photocatalyst may have the potential to make a substantial contribution to ongoing efforts to improve air cleaning devices.'



Oxidation of methanol and formaldehyde to CO2 by a photocatalyst with an energy storage ability: A TiO2–Ni(OH)2 bilayer photocatalyst is known as a photocatalyst with energy storage abilities. Oxidative energy from the UV-irradiated TiO2 underlayer can be stored in the Ni(OH)2 overlayer. We investigated oxidation and mineralization of methanol and formaldehyde by the stored oxidative energy by mean of gas chromatography. When the methanol concentration in air is as low as 10 ppm, the mass conversion efficiency from methanol to CO2 is 86%. Formaldehyde can also be oxidized to CO2 by the stored energy.

Nanocrystalline TiO2 Thin Films - A Newer Coating

To create easy-to-clean surfaces, scientists have developed coatings for use on an array of materials, including fabrics, glass, concrete and windshields.

New eco-friendly self-cleaning material tough on stains, light on effort: Cleaning oily smears from kitchen countertops, mirrors, garage floors, and other surfaces with plain water — rather than strong detergents or smelly solvents — may seem like pure fantasy. But scientists in Indiana today describe what they believe to be a simple and effective state-of-the-art oil stain remover. They have developed a new coating for glass, plastics, and a range of other materials that would enable consumers to wipe away those pesky oils with plain water.
Their report at the 238th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) points out that the same coatings can be added to common window cleaning sprays and used to prevent bathroom mirrors, automobile windshields and other surfaces from fogging up. "You add water, and the oil just comes right off like magic," said Jeffrey Youngblood, Ph.D., lead researcher on the project. "These are eco-friendly coatings — environmentally 'green' in the sense that they eliminate the need for harsh detergents and solvents in settings ranging from home kitchens to industrial machine shops that must contend with heavy oil spills."
The materials could be used in a range of consumer and industrial products, Youngblood said. They include household cleaners, easy-to-clean paints, water filters that separate water from oil, sealants for concrete floors and walls that repel oil in home garages and auto repair shops. In addition, anti-fog coatings could be used on windshields or eyewear, including everyday lenses and fog-free scuba masks. The eco-friendly plastics could reduce the need for detergents containing phosphates. "We put out tons of detergents and phosphates each year," said Youngblood, adding that the polymer materials also could reduce the use of detergents for laundering clothes. This would cut down on the release of phosphates, which wash into lakes and streams and stimulate growth of algae, depleting oxygen supplies in ways that cause fish kills in waterways and make swimming unsafe for humans.
"The idea is to use these polymers to clean in situations where it's inconvenient to apply soap or anywhere you would need to have oil cleaned off easily," said Youngblood, a materials engineer at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. "Oil fouling is always a problem. A lot of people overlook the fact that pure water will generally not remove oil from a surface, but using this product transforms water into a super detergent." Youngblood's group spent years in an effort to develop substances with the goal of making a surface that would repel oil more than water. Once successful, their framework for self-cleaning plastics was in place. "With these materials, if you stuck an oil droplet on them you could completely remove it with water. You could basically do soap-free rinsing."
These polymer coatings — about 20,000 times thinner than the width of a human hair — were highly sensitive to water and would break to the touch. Youngblood has built upon these materials to make a new family of ready-to-use polymers that can be easily applied to a variety of surfaces. They have a bottom layer of polyethylene glycol, which attracts water, and an upper layer of a Teflon-like molecule that prevents the passage of oil. The result is a surface that holds a film of water while repelling oil. "Our work is a big step forward toward useable materials as either additives or coatings," he said, "and few others are working in this area. Most research on self-cleaning is done with different surfaces."
Youngblood is currently evaluating self-cleaning and anti-fog capabilities for polymers on different kinds of metals and ceramics. Preliminary tests on the lifetime of anti-fog coatings are especially encouraging. "We have stored these on shelves and use it months afterwards, and we haven't noticed a decrease in performance," he said. "We feel that we can make all our self-cleaning plastics commercially available within a few years."

If you want some in-depth study to this news release - go here.

TiO2 The Revolutionary New Coating

Why is this new coating so beneficial for window cleaners? It leaves a hydrophillic coating - therefore sheeting when using a water fed pole that will give better results opposed to the generic applications now that make windows hydrophobic. Self-cleaning glass is already available by several window manufacturers. It significantly reduces the need to clean the glass; titanium dioxide is the active ingredient. Titanium Dioxide has been used for over 50 years in many consumer applications such as cosmetics, sun tan lotions, toothpaste, cake icing, paints, and more. Today, by scientifically suspending these nano-sized, crystallized, titanium dioxide particles in water it has made TiO2 commercially viable for all types of surfaces both natural and artificial.

What is titanium dioxide? What is a photo catalyst?
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is an anti-microbial metal created by a process which crystallizes titanic iron ore into a nano liquid form. When exposed to UV light in the sub 400 range, TiO2 becomes a photo catalyst oxidizer (PCO) as well which creates hydroxyl radicals and superoxide ions which are two times stronger disinfectants than chlorine and 1.5 times stronger a disinfectant than ozone. TiO2 is safe and widely used in many household products such as toothpaste, food, and teeth whitening solutions. The advent of nano technology, in other words making tiny particles out of metals that can penetrate most surfaces, has lead to several Japanese patents utilizing this nano TiO-2 photocatalytic solution which has many wide ranging applications and has experienced years of successful use in the Japanese marketplace. For instance the government uses this solution in some public bathrooms to keep them smelling fresh and more importantly maintenance free. TiO2 coatings are applied to some highway guard rails to keep them looking new amidst constant bombardment from hydrocarbons and VOC's from vehicle exhaust. The outside of some Japanese high rises are treated with TiO2 solution to make the glass and metal maintenance free, no more need to clean the windows, they resist water and grime. TiO2 coatings are also widely used in the healthcare, food, janitorial, auto, and construction business. Many homeowners treat their mini-blinds, windows, furniture, bathrooms, showers, carpets, flooring, etc with similar TiO2 solutions to reap the benefits of VOC free, clean, fresh indoor air on top of the huge benefit of maintenance free surfaces. When microorganisms, smog, viruses, VOC, or any organic material comes in contact with the TiO2 treated surface, it also becomes oxidized. Even fabrics treated with this revolutionary substance will not retain odors. Car interiors treated with Nano TiO2, even when submitted to second hand smoke from several people for prolonged periods of time, will not retain any tobacco odor.

Are TiO2 coating harmless to humans? Nano TiO2 liquid is completely harmless to human bodies and is actually used widely as a food additive. (View test results) Nano TiO2 liquid is made with a patented binding process that makes it possible for this liquid to penetrate and form a permanent bond with surfaces. It is not for human consumption in this nano liquid form of course. However, after it dries to form a film on a substance, it becomes one with the surface. Nano TiO2 liquid should not be applied directly on pets or animals. It can and should be used however to keep pet bedding from retaining odors.

How does Nano TiO2 liquid prevent and remove contamination from surfaces? The reason why airborne contaminants such as second hand smoke, car exhaust, molds, VOC's, viruses, bacteria, etc cannot adhere to surfaces treated with Nano TiO2 liquid is that they become oxidized by the photo-catalytic oxidation and float away as harmless substances.

Why does Nano TiO2 liquid have a sterilizing and anti-microbial effect?
The old standard for killing airborne microorganisms has been strong UVC radiation. (Over 20,000 microwatt's of UVGI per second) UVC germicidal radiation kills microbes by destroying their DNA. However, some microorganism, anthrax most notably, have very strong DNA coatings and can resist even 30,000 microwatt's of UVGI. Our Nano TiO2 liquid works in a different way. Titanium dioxide decomposes and destroys the cell membrane, not the DNA. Most microbes are single celled organisms so they die quickly when any part of them comes in contact with a coated surface. Accordingly, titanium dioxide even kills MRSA (Staphylococcus Aureus) a major cause of hospital infections. Our TiO2 solution has also been proven to even kill other types of microbes that are not even killed by antibiotics! (TiO2 is not selective on types of microorganism it kills, it kills them all). For this reason, Japanese hospitals have shown great anti-bacterial results with our particular patented brand of TiO2 solution. In addition, our Nano TiO2 liquid decomposes toxins that are discharged when microbes die (Verotoxins, Enterotoxins), rendering them into harmless vapors.

Information from Air Pollution & Air Purifiers. Also see Green Millenium & No Odour.