International. The Institute of Ceramic Technology (ITC) is working on the development of a coating that can incorporate a self-cleaning effect into ceramic tiles. The research looks for photocatalytic surfaces, which react and are activated with ultraviolet light, endowed with bactericidal and self-cleaning properties.
The project called Fortocer aims to find a coating "with a lasting and effective effect and that has industrial application," point out sources from the technology center.
These photocatalytic coatings are mainly based on titanium dioxide through new deposition technologies, such as plasma technology or electrophoretic deposition. The institute has evaluated "its ability to reduce or eliminate the content of organic matter present in wastewater, in addition to its decontaminating capacity to reduce the content of microorganisms."
In this way, ceramic coatings could find new platforms for use or improve their position in already common areas; as in public spaces that require extreme hygiene (hospitals, catering establishments, building facades).
This project has already studied and developed "methods of obtaining alternative photocatalytic coatings to those currently used, which give rise to surfaces with better mechanical properties, more resistant to wear and transferable to different industrial sectors for their implementation", indicates the ITC.
