When the architect Richard Meier was asked to create a church in Rome to commemorate the 2,000th anniversary of Christianity, he designed an imposing white concrete structure dominated by three soaring "sails."
The project's main technical sponsor got to work on a cement that would enhance Meier's trademark white sculptural forms. It came up with a material that essentially cleans itself, minimizing the need for maintenance.
What the sponsor, Italcementi Group, did not know at the time was that the new material - which contained titanium dioxide, a compound used as a white pigment - had another peculiarity. It "eats" surrounding smog.
Extensive testing, sponsored in part by a European Union research project into "smart" antipollution materials, has since determined that construction products containing titanium dioxide help to destroy air pollutants found in car exhaust and heating emissions, scientists say.
Several companies are now developing "smog-eating" products that can be used not just for the facades of buildings, but also in paint, plaster, and paving materials for roads. The new environment- friendly substances are quietly being tried out in buildings, squares and highways in Europe as well as Japan.
The same material is being used in London for footpath (sidewalk to all you people on the other side of the atlantic) paving. Apparently it never stops absorbing. Coolness.
"smog-eating" Richard Meier
When the architect Richard Meier was asked to create a church in Rome to commemorate the 2,000th anniversary of Christianity, he designed an imposing white concrete structure dominated by three soaring "sails."
The project's main technical sponsor got to work on a cement that would enhance Meier's trademark white sculptural forms. It came up with a material that essentially cleans itself, minimizing the need for maintenance.
What the sponsor, Italcementi Group, did not know at the time was that the new material - which contained titanium dioxide, a compound used as a white pigment - had another peculiarity. It "eats" surrounding smog.
Extensive testing, sponsored in part by a European Union research project into "smart" antipollution materials, has since determined that construction products containing titanium dioxide help to destroy air pollutants found in car exhaust and heating emissions, scientists say.
Several companies are now developing "smog-eating" products that can be used not just for the facades of buildings, but also in paint, plaster, and paving materials for roads. The new environment- friendly substances are quietly being tried out in buildings, squares and highways in Europe as well as Japan.
Full Article:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/11/22/news/smog.php
http://www.italcementi.it/newsite/virtual_show_room.htm
previously on the news: Titianum Kills Smog on Contact
sorry...
S'ok, I missed it in the news and usually only catch these things if they show up in the forum. Fascinating, by the way.
Anyother wonder materials out their that perform magic?
no prob contemax, I was just adding an extra source (same article though)
The same material is being used in London for footpath (sidewalk to all you people on the other side of the atlantic) paving. Apparently it never stops absorbing. Coolness.
blaine brownell puts TX Active in last week's product of the week
http://transstudio.com/tm/
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