Alcoa Architectural Products has launched a self cleaning coating that can be added to its cladding panels

Called EcoClean, the titanium dioxide-based coating enables the cladding to utilise sunshine and airborne moisture to remove particles of dust and smog. Electrons released from the surface of the coating by UV light form radicals that break down dirt. At the same time, a water-attracting surface forms from moisture and the dirt slides off the building.

Until recently coatings of this nature could be used on concrete, glass, plastic and ceramics but would attack aluminium. Alcoa has developed a variant that prevents destruction of the
finish coat and can be applied to Reynobond aluminium composite panels and Reynolux aluminium sheets.

The company said that the coating added between 1% and 1.5% to the cost of a cladding system.

Alcoa Architectural Products
www.alcoa.com