Sauleda & Pureti present: GREEN, the first cloth that cleans the air

In addition to the new New Generation collection, reported in Z&R 7, Spanish cloth manufacturer Sauleda has more news to share. Together with PURETi^TM* presents Sauleda namely GREEN^®, the first awning fabric that cleans the air. To achieve this effect, Sauleda and PURETi^TM developed a cloth coating that uses photocatalysis to ensure that the ambient air is cleaned and purified.

Harmful substances such as nitrogen oxides (NO_x), sulfur oxides (SO_x) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are eliminated by the fabric thanks to the coating. The GREEN^® cloth is also self-cleaning and mold-reducing, saving end users time, money, water, chemicals and energy. Sauleda shows its commitment to the environment and people's health with this cloth.

Photocatalysis

The coating used on the GREEN^® cloth is applied consists of nanoparticles (particles with dimensions of 1-100 nanometers) made of titanium dioxide (TiO₂). When UV radiation acts on the fabric, a chemical process is started that converts oxygen and water vapor into the cleaning compounds OH and O₂ (hydroxide and oxygen).

OH converts organic pollution and volatile organic compounds into minerals and gases, changing back into H₂O (water). O₂ reduces nitrogen oxides NO_x, one of the most harmful gases in the atmosphere, to relatively harmless nitrates. This process repeats itself millions of times and has resulted in a reduction of nitrogen dioxide levels by 55% in laboratory tests. In addition, a reduction of fungi by 60% and a self-cleaning effect of 70% have been observed. By the way, these percentages are reference values that can vary depending on environmental influences.

The titanium dioxide coating is applied to one side of the fabric only, recognizable by the GREEN^® label. That side of the cloth should always face the sun to ensure that the cloth can do its cleaning job.

In his tests, Fraunhofer arrives at an NO conversion of 55.88%.

Tested by Fraunhofer

Sauleda and PURETi^TM Have the GREEN^® cloth in August of this year had it tested at the renowned, independent Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST in Braunschweig, in Germany. The photocatalytic air purification of the GREEN^® cloth was then confirmed in a test environment by a measured NO conversion of exactly 55.88%.

The GREEN^® cloth is currently available in twenty colors. As of certain quantities, Sauleda's cloth collection can basically be supplied in any color and width. For more information, please contact the sales department of the cloth producer.