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Arc Flash comes in a form of liquid, whose main active ingredient is an n-type semiconductor photo-catalyst, which are nano-sized Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) particles. This technology was founded by the Japanese, more than 18 years ago. Due to the fact that back in Japan, the product has advanced to a different level of application, Litten Inc. of Taiwan set up a manufacturing plant to manufacture the earlier generation of Arc Flash Photocatalyst coating which is more suitable to market in countries which have not been exposed to such a product. |
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1.Nanoscale TiO2 Diameter |
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To ensure enough specific surface area (the proportion of volume to surface area) to be effective in micro- world, the diameter of TiO2 must be controlled under nanometer. According to the reports by Scientific American in 2002, the general crystallization of TiO2 is between 20~250nm, which is not effective.
In fact, TiO2 will work only if its diameter is under 7nm. It is because in 3-D space, the smaller the particles¡¯ diameters are, the closer they will line, and the increase of specific surface area will cause more sensitive reaction. The average diameter of TiO2 in ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst is under 7nm, which could result in a rather big specific surface area, and a high effectiveness per unit. |
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2 Visible Light Response |
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In 2000, ARC-FLASH was the first to overcome the limit of only UV light being able to activate Photocatalyst and successfully developed ¡°visible light responsive¡± feature working with both the ultraviolet of 300~400nm wavelength and the visible light of 400~800nm. Thus ARC-FLASH started a new era of ¡°visible light responsive¡± Photocatalyst. In the past, Photocatalyst could only be triggered by ultraviolet light, which confined the application of Photocatalyst.
It became necessary to install ultraviolet lighting tube if there was no such light in order to inspire Photocatalyst for reaction. But now, even in an environment lack of natural light or at night, it can also use visible light (fluorescent lamp or bulb) for reaction since the fourth generation Photocatalyst increases the applying range and cut the cost of adding illuminating devices. |
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3.TiO2 Concentration |
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The quality of Photocatalyst (i.e. product efficiency) is mostly determined by the TiO2 level in materials; which means, the more TiO2 it contains, the better quality and efficiency it will have. The TiO2 concentration in ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst materials reaches 30% and it obviously has an edge over other Photocatalysts with a TiO2 level less than 1%. TiO2 is white and of solid state, so TiO2 concentration in material can be judged from its appearance.
When the TiO2 level is low, the material is transparent and watery; however, it will become white once TiO2 is over 10%. The more TiO2 it contains, the thicker the material will be. The TiO2 concentration of ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst reaches 30%, thus it looks like thick milk. |
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4.Dispersion Technology |
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It is very hard to improve TiO2 level of Photocatalyst materials technically, that is why TiO2 concentration of Photocatalyst in current market is universally less than 1%. Because the density of TiO2 is higher than water, it will easily precipitate and condense in water in a large amount. So as to improve TiO2 level successfully and avoid precipitation, it must depend on a good dispersion technology.
Although precipitation is inevitable, with a good dispersion technology it could be dispersed evenly after shaking. ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst inside a container will precipitate and form a one third white solid layer after placed for two to four weeks but it will be dispersed easily by shaking. ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst owns a good dispersion technology so that it can raise TiO2 level without affecting the following application. |
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5. Binders |
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Binders are supposedly used to fix Photocatalyst on the surface of objects but few Photocatalysts applying in the market are using them. Because binders are organic compounds and would be decomposed by Photocatalyst, most manufactures have to give up binders without being able to overcome the obstructions of their applications, which means they cannot fix Photocatalyst by spraying directly. Thanks to the leading technologies, ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst can combine with binders without decomposing them. Through special fixation technologies, it becomes very easy to fix ARC-FLASH on surfaces of any objects by spraying directly. |
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6.Fixing by Spraying Directly |
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ARC-FLASH is one of the few professional Photocatalyst manufacturers with the fixation technologies of direct spraying globally and due to this ARC-FLASH can provide a complete spraying service. The special spraying gun of ARC-FLASH is particularly made by Meiji Industry of Japan and can spray 1¦Ìm bubbles covered by the binder layers, through which TiO2 will attach on the bubble surfaces. Once bubbles are sprayed and attached on the surface of objects, it would be extruded and become half-sphere. Then the surface tension caused by the pressure inside bubbles will push TiO2 forward and stay on the bubble surfaces to meet light for reaction.
Owing to the fixation technologies, ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst can be directly sprayed on the surfaces of any materials including organic matters. The decomposition problem is wisely avoided because ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst will not directly contact materials, unlike other Photocatalysts. It is unnecessary to take steps of protecting organic materials by coating inorganic matters before processing. The technique simplification and extension of application ranges are the fruits brought by the fixation technologies of ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst. |
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7.Getting Dry and Firm Instantly |
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Photocatalysts of other brands are watery and hard to dry after spraying and even need being heated under high temperature, which are quite inconvenient. Unlike them, ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst can dry in seconds after spraying on rough surfaces (e.g. wall, wood), and in less than 30 seconds on glossier surfaces (e.g. tiles, marble), so the feature of drying instantly o makes it very convenient to apply without affecting the construction environment.
ARC-FLASH Photocatalyst will not be erased by touch after being dried, and its hardness could reach the maximum (pencil hardness 4H) in 10~14 days, which is even harder than the paint of automobiles. The layer will last long on the surfaces of objects and will not be damaged unless being rubbed with hard things. |
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| Copyrights (c) 2008,Arc Flash Corporation Sdn. Bhd. All rights reserved. |
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