Page 41 - Respond 2016 Magazine

five to eight years. We are developing solutions to extend this performance coatings within the AkzoNobel portfolio.
durability to at least ten years and beyond.
Clean air
Our research programs are focused on developing new polymer Air pollution is another challenging urbanization issue, especially
technologies to best balance weatherability and softness to create in growing cities in emerging markets. Harmful air pollutants such
products with a longer durability than standard products used on as nitrogen oxides (NOx) are recognised health and environmental
building façades. In combination with durable pigments that do issues being faced by urban communities. NOx (NO, NO2) are
not fade under strong UV, and smart formulation modelling, we can predominantly generated by the combustion of nitrogen in
deliver extended repainting cycles. Beyond traditional coatings, vehicle engines. NOx pollution is flagged as a contributory factor
zero-VOC powder coatings for exterior façades can last for 20 years in respiratory diseases and can react with many other chemicals to
or more. create further, harmful pollutants.
Deliver energy efficient solutions Photoactive Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) is a well-established
Cities also experience the “urban heat island effect”, especially those technology for depollution and self-cleaning. When UV radiation
cities that are subject to temperatures of 35°C and above throughout strikes a photoactive TiO2 molecule, highly reactive free radicals
the year. This results in growing energy consumption, which is are formed. These radicals react with organic materials and can
needed to cool down buildings. What many people are unaware of, decompose air pollutants into less harmful materials. This reactivity
however, is the fact that the materials used on exterior façades can can also decompose other unwanted material, such as dirt, helping
have a significant impact on the temperature inside a building. to maintain cleaner façades for longer. Incorporating photoactive
TiO2 into coatings is not an easy task, because its reactivity is so
When infrared radiation from the sun strikes the surface of a high that it can even degrade the paint film itself.
building, some of it is reflected and some is absorbed in the form
of heat. This causes the exterior wall of the building to increase Our researchers are working on technologies to stabilize
in temperature, and this heat is subsequently transmitted to the depollution paints without compromising general coatings
interior of the building. Thanks to innovative technology and smart properties, particularly with high durability in harsh climatic
formulation modelling software, our researchers have developed conditions such as tropical areas. The ultimate aim is to offer
strategies to increase the solar reflectivity of our coatings. customers around the world a technical solution for covering
millions of square meters of façade with depollution solutions, with
We’ve carefully managed the pigments we use in our paints to the potential to help clean millions of cubic meters of air.
create striking colours while at the same time significantly increasing
the amount of infrared radiation which is reflected by building One of our clear commitments as a company is to help create
façades. The result is a difference of up to 5°C between a façade more Human Cities around the world. We are using our three key
coated with a normal exterior paint and one coated with our Dulux strengths – essential ingredients, essential protection and essential
Weathershield Keep Cool products. Computer simulation modelling colour – to energize communities and make them more liveable
has also demonstrated energy cost savings of up to 10 to 15 percent, and inspiring. Our researchers and scientists will therefore continue
depending on the type of building. And this is achieved simply as a to search for new and innovative ways in which coatings can
result of less energy being required to cool the inside of the building. increasingly play a more significant role in addressing the great
This type of cooling effect is available in a variety of decorative and urbanization challenges that lie ahead.

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