Service life of self-cleaning cool coatings

Abstract

This project aims to measure the durability of multifunctional coatings, bringing together the reflectance and emittance properties that classify them as cool and self-cleaning surfaces simultaneously, reducing or eliminating maintenance. To achieve this goal, two routes of investigation will be drawn. The first will be to develop a system of overlapping layers that constitute the coating (substrate + inorganic layer + nano particles of anatase). The second route will be explored through the preparation of a monolayer coating, with insertion of cool pigments in a cement based paint, creating a high degree of reflectivity, that with the photocatalytic activity (self-cleaning) of the titanium dioxide (TiO2), makes the surface self -cleaning. In both situations we aim that, under the action of UV radiation, nanoparticles of anatase, will photocatalytically degrade organic matter deposited on the surface and change the contact angle between the surface and the organic material deposited on it. The incidence of water will wash the deposited material, keeping the surface cool, clean and reflective. Surfaces that have multifunctional properties in the built environment will be allies to the fight against urban heat islands. The action of the multifunctional materials contribute effectively to the environment, thus making it essential that they present a satisfactory performance over time. Therefore, durability studies on these alternatives involving cool pigments associated with nanoparticles of TiO2 photocatalytic reactions are extremely important. The durability studies will be developed in areas with different climatic characteristics. They may point to the type of coating suited to provide the best response to the environmental conditions to which they are exposed.