Cement-Based Photocatalytic Paint Composition
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photocatalytic compositions in paints degrade over time, leading to loss of photocatalytic properties and aesthetic issues, and require high photocatalyst quantities, organic solvents, and heavy metals, which are toxic and environmentally harmful.
Innovation Solution
A cement-based photocatalytic composition incorporating inorganic binders, low-viscosity cellulose, fluidizing agents, calcareous fillers, hollow ceramic spheres, and glass bubble borosilicate microspheres, which improves reflectance, thermal insulation, and application ease while reducing photocatalyst usage and VOC content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional organic-based paint formulations are used to incorporate photocatalytic products, then the paint can be applied using common building techniques, but the organic base undergoes photocatalytic transformation and decomposition over time, leading to coating degradation, detachment, pulverization, and quick decay of photocatalytic properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental chemical parameter of the paint base from organic to inorganic (cement-based). This parameter change makes the base material resistant to photocatalytic degradation while maintaining applicability through proper formulation of the cement-based composition with appropriate binders, fillers, and additives.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system combining cement-based inorganic binder with photocatalytic substances (such as titanium dioxide). This composite approach allows the photocatalytic components to remain stable and active while the inorganic matrix provides structural integrity and resistance to degradation, enabling both long-term durability and photocatalytic functionality.
2Reliability
If high quantities of photocatalyst are used to ensure significant photocatalytic effect, then the environmental pollutant reduction is improved, but the cost increases and the composition becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the particle size parameter of the photocatalyst to nanoscale dimensions. This parameter change dramatically increases the surface area to volume ratio, allowing much lower quantities of photocatalyst material to achieve the same or better photocatalytic activity compared to conventional larger particle sizes, thus reducing both cost and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the high surface area characteristics of nanoporous or highly dispersed photocatalytic materials within the cement matrix. This approach maximizes the active surface area available for photocatalytic reactions per unit mass of photocatalyst, improving efficiency and reducing the total quantity needed while maintaining significant photocatalytic effect.
3Ease of operation
If organic solvents and heavy metals are used in photocatalytic paint formulations, then the application performance is improved, but toxic and environmentally harmful substances are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent system parameter from organic to water-based. This parameter change eliminates toxic organic solvents and heavy metals while maintaining application performance through proper adjustment of water-soluble binders, dispersants, and rheological modifiers in the cement-based formulation, achieving both environmental safety and operational effectiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition achieves stable photocatalytic performance with low photocatalyst amounts, reduced VOCs, and improved application characteristics, such as increased yield and pot life, without using toxic solvents or heavy metals, ensuring effective environmental pollutant reduction and aesthetic durability.
Implementation Method 1
Photocatalysis is a natural phenomenon regarding some substances, known as photocatalysts, which—when irradiated with light of suitable wavelength—are capable of catalyzing some chemical reactions. In particular, in the presence of air and light, oxidative processes are activated on a surface containing a photocatalytic substance that leads to the transformation and/or decomposition of organic and inorganic polluting substances
Implementation Method 2
The Applicant has faced the technical problems of improving the thermal insulation of the dried paint product... the thermal insulator material comprising hollow ceramic spheres with sub-mm diameters, and glass bubble borosilicate microspheres
Implementation Method 3
The Applicant has faced the technical problems of improving the reflectance of the dried paint product... (e) at least one first calcareous filler in the form of particles of which at least 95% by weight has a dimension not greater than 40 μm; (f) at least one second calcareous filler
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to photocatalytic compositions, e.g. cement-based photocatalytic compositions, and the uses thereof for obtaining water paints. There is provided a photocatalytic composition, which comprises: (a) at least one inorganic binder; (b) at least one photocatalyst; (c) at least one cellulose with very low viscosity; (d) at least one fluidizing agent; (e) at least one first calcareous filler in the form of particles of which at least 95% by weight has a dimension not greater than 40 μm; (f) at least one second calcareous filler in the form of particles of which at least 95% by weight has a dimension not greater than 20 μm; (g) at least one thermal insulator material comprising hollow ceramic spheres with sub-mm diameters, and (h) glass bubble borosilicate microspheres.