Competitive Advantages:
Energy efficient, Self cleaning, Reflective and emissive properties, Reduces organic pollutants.
A variety of particles forming microencapsulated thermochromic materials are provided. The particles can include a thermochromic core and a metal oxide shell encapsulating the thermochromic core. The thermochromic core can include one or both of an organic thermochromic material and an inorganic salt thermochromic material. In some aspects, the particles include a dye selected from a crystal violet lactone dye, a fluoran dye, and a combination thereof. In still further aspects, the particles include a color developer elected from a hydroxybenzoate, a 4, 4'-dihydroxydiphenyl propane, a hydroxycoumarin derivative, a lauryl gallate, and a combination thereof. In some aspects, the metal oxide shell is a TiO2 shell. The particles can be used in cements and paints and for a variety of building materials. Methods of making the particles and building materials and methods of use, for example, for removing a volatile organic carbon from a building material, are also provided.Our inventors have developed a mechanism to create an energy efficient material which also has the property of self cleaning. This material is created by combining a photocatalytic material with a thermochromic material via microencapsulation. These materials can be mixed with cement and used for constructing surfaces and cement based paints, among other applications. When this material is used as an external surface for buildings, it will help to reduce energy usage and will create a surface that is self cleaning. In addition, this material also reacts with air components to destroy organic pollutants. This invention can be used for a variety of applications, such as building exteriors, coating other materials, and roof tiles where color change and self cleaning are desired.
Brochure
