A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Self-cleaning ultra-high performance concrete surfaces
Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) such as Ductal offers an attractive mineral surface that is particularly valued in design elements, building facades, and other architectural applications. A technical challenge for these applications is how to keep the surface durably clean from the deposition of stains, micro-particles, and micro-organisms, Our research has demonstrated two different fabrication strategies to impart self-cleaning properties to a UHPC surface. The first approach, inspired by the Lotus effect found in plants, uses a microtextured UHPC surface that is post-treated with a silicone compound to create a superhydrophobic surface with water contact angles > 160° and contact angle hysteresis < 8°. These properties cause water drops to slide off the surface, carrying debris away. The second approach uses a thin photocatalytic coating on a smooth UHPC surface. Upon UV-irradiation, water drops spread completely on the superhydrophilic surface, thereby creating water films that flush debris away. Both of the above strategies open up exciting new avenues for self-cleaning UHPC surfaces.
Self-cleaning ultra-high performance concrete surfaces
Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) such as Ductal offers an attractive mineral surface that is particularly valued in design elements, building facades, and other architectural applications. A technical challenge for these applications is how to keep the surface durably clean from the deposition of stains, micro-particles, and micro-organisms, Our research has demonstrated two different fabrication strategies to impart self-cleaning properties to a UHPC surface. The first approach, inspired by the Lotus effect found in plants, uses a microtextured UHPC surface that is post-treated with a silicone compound to create a superhydrophobic surface with water contact angles > 160° and contact angle hysteresis < 8°. These properties cause water drops to slide off the surface, carrying debris away. The second approach uses a thin photocatalytic coating on a smooth UHPC surface. Upon UV-irradiation, water drops spread completely on the superhydrophilic surface, thereby creating water films that flush debris away. Both of the above strategies open up exciting new avenues for self-cleaning UHPC surfaces.
Self-cleaning ultra-high performance concrete surfaces
Chen, Jeffrey (author) / Horgnies, Matthieu (author)
2012
7 Seiten, 5 Bilder, 2 Tabellen, 12 Quellen
Conference paper
English
ULTRA HIGH PERFORMANCE SELF COMPACTING CONCRETE
| British Library Conference Proceedings | 2003
Ultra high performance self compacting concrete
| Tema Archive | 2003
Self-cleaning concrete pipes through structured internal pipe surfaces
| British Library Online Contents | 2004