Self-cleaning glass hits Europe 18 September 2002 Consumers across Europe can now purchase self-cleaning glass that promises to keep windows free from dirt. Pilkington is launching its self-cleaning glass across Europe this month. As of today, consumers in the UK have the opportunity to buy Pilkington's Activ glass and tomorrow the product will make its debut in Italy. Effortless cleaning Self-cleaning glass has been the dream of flat-glass manufacturers such as Pilkington for some time. But having cracked the mystery last year, the company initially launched the product in Ireland, Austria and the US. Today, the bandwagon has rolled into the UK en-route across Europe. "The key to Activ glass is an ultra-thin coating only 40 nm thick," Philip Webb a spokesperson for Pilkington told Optics.org. "It is applied to the glass surface during the manufacturing process." The coating, which is based on titanium dioxide, works by combining the two beneficial effects. First, the ultraviolet wavelengths in sunlight react with a photocatalyst to break down organic debris on the glass. "The second feature is that the coating is hydrophilic," says Webb. "This means that when rain hits the glass, it doesn't form droplets. Rain water flows down the glass in a sheet and washes the dirt away." Alternatively, a hose can be used to clean the glass when there is little or no rainfall. The clever invention comes at a premium price though. Activ is set to cost consumers up to 20% more than conventional glazing. "The coating lasts for the lifetime of the window," says Webb. "Consumers would recoup the excess cost over that time."
LOL! I remember back in the day I used to mark out "Wash Me!!!!!!!! Please!!!!" on all the dirty cars at church.
Is this an example of nanotechnology being used commercially? (nanocomposite technology to be specific) I believe it is. I've seen a lot made of this coming wave of technology. People are saying that it can do everything from building lighter and stronger materials and structures, to improving speed of computer processing (and continue the trend towards miniaturization), to improving performance materials and chemical processes, to increasing the speeds of genome and protein sequencing. The applications are truly limitless. Here is a link that discusses it: http://www.nano.gov/nni03_aug02.pdf
Yeah, until the nanomachines become conscious, develop their own language and become collectively intelligent like they did on Star Trek.
