Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CleanCoat (Development of eco-friendly architectural coil coatings for clean buildings and pollution-free air)

Teaser

The protection of coil structures (50% of exterior surfaces consists of steel and aluminium) against the influences of weather and corrosion is imperative to extend the material life-span and mitigate the high costs for structural repairs and replacements. In addition, to keep...

Summary

The protection of coil structures (50% of exterior surfaces consists of steel and aluminium) against the influences of weather and corrosion is imperative to extend the material life-span and mitigate the high costs for structural repairs and replacements. In addition, to keep the attractive look of the building over the years, the cleaning of these surfaces is mandatory entailing expensive equipment and high workers’ risk due to the high altitudes. The overall cleaning and maintenance costs entail between €7.000 and 50.000 per wash which needs to be performed annually.
Current coating solutions do not cover the need for multifunctional architectural among final users of buildings that: reduce the cleaning and maintenance, enhance the protection of metallic structures and have excellent aesthetic properties, while being globally available.
CleanCoat is a new type of photocatalytic coating for metallic facades consisting of TiO2 nanoparticles embedded in a highly stable polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix which promotes the presence of high concentration of TiO2 nanoparticles at the free surface of the coating. CleanCoat simultaneously protects the metal against corrosion, keeps the surface clean (photocatalysis) and purifies the air by reducing pollutants (NOx and SOx).

Work performed

We have identified the target performance parameters for CleanCoat according to the product performances and selected the inclusion of additives in the PVDF formulation as the best approach for the CleanCoat preparation. Work plan for the technical optimization and industrialization of our solution has been established while potential risks and their mitigation and contingency activities identified. A deep analysis focusing on the European coil coating market and analysis of the competitive landscape in Europe was performed together with the outline of the exploitation plan for the commercialization, including an FTO analysis and patent strategy. Finally, the financial forecast for the first 5 years of CleanCoat commercialization including the cost analysis of CleanCoat production was set.

Final results

Thanks to CleanCoats’ embedded structure and curing process, production time is reduced by 50%, cost by 30% and production capacity doubled. With a 30-years guaranteed durability, end-users will save up to € 100.000 per year on maintenance and cleaning and enjoy a high-quality aesthetic look by the self-cleaning surface, unlimited choice of colours and finishes, and outstanding colour retention and UV stability of the product.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.alcea.com/en/.