SBIR Phase I: Low-Cost Photocatalytic Treatment to Seal Existing Concrete, Stone, Masonry or Other Cementitious Surfaces and Make Them Self-Cleaning

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目解决了多孔建筑材料，如混凝土，石材和相关胶凝材料的有机污染问题。 这些材料上的污染物范围从汽车流体到墨水到生物制剂，例如真菌。 这项研究探索了一种独特的低成本（约10美分/平方英尺）专利申请中的处理方法，该方法可以在几天的时间内实现常见有机表面污染物的显著光催化分解。这种耐用的，表面改性，自清洁纳米技术既永久密封毛孔，使表面光活性。 这种组合效应将污染物保持在表面并在那里分解它们，或使它们更容易被传统清洁剂接触。因此，处理过的表面对霉菌是有害的-不使用杀菌剂-并且在很大程度上“照顾自己”。 我们的研究目标包括确认各种理论预测的耐久性和有效性。 该项目将通过实验测试和优化以下特性，其中包括：1）光催化反应的速度，2）有机径流和霉菌感染的有效性，3）机械和光催化耐久性，4）适用期和5）保质期。 试点研究已经证明了在汽车含油道路和发霉的人行道上的初步成功;第一阶段的研究将进一步证实这些初步数据，并扩大对这些数据的信心。该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是巨大的，因为有机污染物每年仅在美国就造成数亿美元的损失。 这些损害表现为由于预计的有机径流、建筑物或其他表面的污损或难看的霉菌的生长而导致的项目延迟或取消的形式，大约10%的普通人口对霉菌过敏。 在美国，每年大约有1亿美元花费在仅仅部分有效的混凝土密封剂上;更有效的密封剂可以创造数百万美元的新经济活动。 这种“绿色产品”易于施用，并且所需的表面特性，例如湿牵引力或蒸汽透过率，不会因其施用而改变。 其他人提出了表面膜涂层与更昂贵的有机赋形剂，是不兼容的无机基板和耐用性差，或本身容易受到光催化分解。这种新方法确保了材料的兼容性和低成本。 这种方法在成本（它们是昂贵的十倍）和性能（即，竞争材料保持可渗透性、吸收水分，并且可以将污染物吸入地下，在地下污染物更难以处理）。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project addresses the problem of organic contamination on porous building materials such as concrete, stone, and related cementitious materials. Contaminants on these materials range from automotive fluids to inks to biological agents, such as fungi. This research explores a unique low-cost (~10 cents/square foot) patent-pending treatment that achieves significant photocatalytic breakdown of common organic surface contaminants over a time span of days. This durable, surface-modifying, self-cleaning nanotechnology both permanently seals pores and makes surfaces photoactive. This combined effect keeps contaminants at the surface and there breaks them down, or makes them more accessible to conventional cleaners. Treated surfaces are consequently inimical to molds - without using a biocide - and largely "take care of themselves". Our research objectives include confirming various theoretical predictions of durability and effectiveness. This project will experimentally test and optimize the following characteristics, among others: 1) speed of photocatalytic reactions, 2) effectiveness regarding organic runoff and mold infestation, 3) mechanical and photocatalytic durability, 4) pot life and 5) shelf life. Pilot research has demonstrated preliminary success on auto oil-laden roads and moldy walkways; the Phase I research will result in further confirmation of, and expanded confidence in, these preliminary data.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is large since organic contaminants inflict hundreds of millions of dollars of damage annually in the United States alone. These damages are manifested in the form of projects delayed or cancelled due to projected organic runoff, the defacing of buildings or other surfaces, or the growth of unsightly molds, to which about 10% of the general population is allergic. Perhaps $100 million dollars is spent annually in the United States on concrete sealants that are only partially effective; a more effective sealant could create millions of dollars of new economic activity. This "green product" is easy to apply and desirable surface characteristics, such as wet traction or vapor transmission, are unchanged by its application. Others have proposed surface-membrane coatings with more-costly organic excipients that are less compatible with inorganic substrates and less durable, or are themselves susceptible to photocatalytic breakdown. This new method ensures both materials compatibility and low cost. This method also compares favorably with self-cleaning European concretes in both cost (they are ten times as expensive) and performance (i.e., the competing materials remain permeable, absorb moisture, and can draw contaminants into the subsurface where they are more challenging to address).