Alcoa has announced that it will market a new aluminum construction panel that eliminates smog from the surrounding air with the help of titanium oxide, a common chemical used in automobile paints. The white pigment enables the bonding of paint to any automobile surface.
Alcoa worked with Toto of Japan to develop an exclusive method to convert powdered titanium oxide into a fine paste and apply it on the aluminum surface.
The company reported that the titanium dioxide coating reacts with sunlight and the contamination in the nearby air is broken down into CO2 particulates. These particles are then removed by rainfall.
Currently, the aluminum panel is being tested. It will be launched in the market by June 2011. In due course, the panel could be well positioned in the North Americana and Europe aluminum construction segment, which is around 2.5 billion sq. ft per annum.
DuPont, Tronox and Huntsman are leading developers of titanium dioxide. Alcoa is testing the technology for car applications.
Source: http://www.alcoa.com