Easy-To-Clean Surface

The principle of this concept is taken from nature. Certain plants have very good self cleaning properties by combining a micro structured surface, which is coated with a hydrophobic agent. This is referred to as Lotus Leaf effect. The Lotus Leaf effect is based on super hydrophobicity  (Fig.), which enables plants to clean themselves from dust particles.

principle-water-repellency-landscape

Within SESBE a similar approach was chosen to functionalize the concrete surface towards easy-to-clean properties.

The approach was to imprint a fabric structure into the concrete’s surface. The textile produces two types of profiles: One is created by the weaving of the thread and has a profile between 50 and 150 µm. The other is produced by the fibers of the thread, typically with a diameter of 10 to 20 µm. The water repellency is then created by a hydrophobic agent, which is mixed into the concrete.

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Fabric.
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Concrete with textile imprint.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following pictures show the beading effect of water, once it is in contact with the water repellent surface. By this method contact angles 150 – 170 o and roll-off angles < 20 o could be produced.

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Hyrdophob concrete surface.
Hydrophobic concrete surface with additional fabric imprint.