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Dumb materials that do smart things

January 14th, 02009 by Alexander Rose - Twitter: @zander

Stewart Brand sent me this interesting bit on a couple of potential long term building materials that have recently been discovered to be improving rather than degrading their environs:

Recently a new building, the Dives in Misericordia Church in Rome, seemed to be reducing the concentration of urban pollutants in its immediate vicinity (36). Upon investigation, it was discovered that the titanium dioxide coating on the large concrete walls of the church was reacting with nitrogen oxide pollutants in a photocatalytic reaction, resulting in a decrease of pollutants in the area. Although the TiO2 was originally specified for its visual qualities and self-cleaning properties, its effect on local pollutants was a surprise to the architects and engineers of the building. Further research is needed to determine efficacy and real benefits, but proposals are already surfacing for the use of photocatalytic coatings in sidewalks and roads to neutralize the concentration of pollutants found in dense urban conditions.

Also, a “new” material-polyamide, or nylon-has emerged in applications as a “smart” vapor barrier in exterior envelopes. Its water vapor permeability increases by a factor of 10 in conditions of very high humidity. This is particularly useful when moisture is trapped inside a wall assembly. The vapor barrier becomes more permeable and allows moisture to escape, reducing the risk of corrosion, rot, and the growth of mold and mildew. Although nylon was discovered in 1931, its properties as a vapor barrier were not described until 1999, and it was recently commercialized for this purpose (37)

Science 30 March 2007:
Vol. 315. no. 5820, pp. 1807 – 1810
DOI: 10.1126/science.1137542

Materials for Aesthetic, Energy-Efficient, and Self-Diagnostic Buildings
John E. Fernández

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 14th, 02009 at 3:18 am and is filed under Clock of the Long Now, Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Eric Moore

It's been used for pollution reduction before.

Heck, it even made it onto cool tools: http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/000467.php
Glen Finkel

Photocatalytic TiO2 (aka UV-PCO) is a green, clean, self-cleaning, technology discovered in Japan 40 years ago and that has been steadily improving with the advances in nanotechnology. UV-PCO is broadly accepted in Asia (mostly for infection control) and has gained traction in Europe (mostly for environmental benefits). UV-PCO is just getting discovered in America.

PURETi, a Michigan based company, has created a breakthrough version of this powerful chemistry in an easy to apply water based solution that is simply misted onto building exteriors to create self-cleaning and air purifying surfaces. One application works year after sustainable year with less light and better results than all previous approaches. See: www.pureti.com/video2

PURETi's (pronounced purity) simpler, more elegant and powersul version of Photocatalytic TiO2 is on its way to establishing UV-PCO in America. PURETi has successfully treated 10 buildings in California (including a Toyota/GM car factory and a Child Development Center on the LACCD Campus - the largest green building budget in the country) and proven its ability to deliver environmental benefits while reducing maintenance costs. In 2009, PURETi will be treating millions of square feet of building facades and windows in the US.
Davide Bocelli

The architect is Richard Meier, the same that designed the Ara Pacis Museum in Rome. This building is a "machine" for the conservation of the Ara Pacis Augustae.