Aluminium cladding that disperses dirt and smog MERXHEIM, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In July, with its Reynobond®|Reynolux® with EcoClean™, Alcoa Architectural Products is launching an aluminium cladding panel that cleans both itself and the surrounding air. This means that for the first time there is aluminium cladding that actively generates sustainability and is both economic and environmentally friendly. With the aid of the sun and moisture, the titanium dioxide-based coating 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,” explains Guy Scheidecker, Marketing and Distribution Manager for Alcoa Architectural Products. 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. And when the overall costs over a building lifetime are taken into consideration, a façade made up of Reynobond® or Reynolux® cladding coated with EcoClean™ is even more economic. Great interest shown by business and industry alike To the cladding’s 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 why specific enquiries are already being made by businesses wanting to utilise this aspect in their brand communications. This is how the new coating works. Under the incidence of sunlight, the light-sensitive titanium dioxide (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 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. More information can be found at www.excellence-in-innovation.eu. Alcoa Architectural Products in Merxheim / France is a subsidiary of Alcoa, the market leader in aluminium. Alcoa Architectural Products employs 59,000 people in 31 different countries, and produces and sells products ranging from composite panels to household foil.
