Archive: This article was first published in 2023. It reflects the state of knowledge, product names and wording of that time. Current, product-specific information can be found on the respective product pages.
The patented NP® technology from Germany as a preventive approach against mould on surfaces
Germany / Dubai, 2022
Mould in offices, hotels, residential buildings or public facilities such as shopping malls is a constant problem caused by high humidity and heat – one that affects people’s quality of life as well as the image of businesses. Nanopool presents a coating technology that is designed to reduce the adhesion and spread of mould spores on suitable surfaces.
Mould removal used to help only temporarily
A climate with high humidity above 70% combined with warm temperatures inevitably leads to mould growth. The harmful microorganisms spread across walls, ceilings, sofas as well as joints and seals.
Mould can be professionally removed from surfaces, but this does not prevent re-infestation: the climatic conditions remain, and new carpets of mould keep growing. Moreover, with conventional cleaning there is always the risk that mould spores have invisibly eaten their way even deeper into walls or ceilings. Even if only a few spores remain, they multiply again in no time and the problem starts all over.
A danger to health and business
Whether in a hotel room, a swimming pool, at the workplace or at home – for the people exposed to mould, the health consequences are severe: allergies, asthma and other respiratory diseases develop when the spores travel through the air into our lungs. Infants, small children and the elderly in particular suffer enormously from mould infestation.
Air-conditioning systems are often an additional source of distribution for the harmful microorganisms. In the hospitality industry, this health hazard also brings image damage that threatens the entire business. For guests from other climate zones especially, the keyword “mould” in a hotel review quickly deters a booking. Preventive solutions are therefore in demand.
Liquid Glass against mould
To counter mould growth, spores must be deprived of the basis for settling and multiplying. Nanopool has developed a method that is designed to treat surfaces such as concrete, plastic, rubber or textiles so that the adhesion of microorganisms is reduced.
“Liquid Glass” is the magic word. Due to its specific surface properties, glass offers hardly any point of attack for the adhesion and spread of microorganisms. Using the glass raw material silicon dioxide – SiO2 for short – Nanopool has succeeded in developing a liquid that forms a barrier layer on surfaces of all kinds, comparable to an ultra-thin glazing, which is designed to reduce the adhesion of mould spores. Even on textiles, the coating bonds with the surface in a flexibly stretchable way.
Documented applications
In a supermarket in Germany, for example, around 2,500 square metres of interior ceiling surfaces were treated with the NP® coating. Comparative contact tests showed only 2 mould spores per 28.3 cm² on the coated surface, while the untreated surface showed heavy mould growth. The result relates to this specific application and its conditions.
In an industrial butchery, for example, the drip tray of an evaporator was treated with the NP® technology. Where a biofilm had previously formed regularly on the surface of the collected liquid, significantly less biofilm formation was observed after treatment.
In the healthcare sector, the NP® process was named national winner in the Science category by “Land der Ideen” (Land of Ideas) for the application “Liquid Glass against hospital germs”. The British National Health Service (NHS) recognised a project with the NP® technology in connection with its Smart Solutions Award. Awards do not replace product-specific evidence.
Treating surfaces with existing mould
The coating process can also be used to seal surfaces after professional mould treatment. Whether and to what extent this is suitable depends on the substrate, the extent of the infestation and the recommendations of mould remediation specialists; it does not replace professional mould removal.
The Liquid Glass layer bonds with the surface and can be painted over with wall paint. Application is carried out by simple spraying. Suitability for the specific substrate should be tested in advance.
An international solution, now also in the United Arab Emirates
Nanopool thus offers a preventive approach to reducing mould on surfaces in industry, administration and private homes.
After numerous successful deployments in Europe, Asia and South America, the NP® mould protection is now also being introduced as a solution in the United Arab Emirates. Interested parties can contact Nanopool directly and receive information about local sales partners: info@nanopool.eu.
For further questions about the many possible applications of the NP® protective coating, the company headquartered in Schwalbach/Germany will be happy to help: info@nanopool.eu
About the company:
nanopool® GmbH, based in Hülzweiler, is an innovative family business. Since 2002 it has been among the companies working with nanotechnology in the field of surface refinement.
nanopool® has succeeded in developing a surface refinement for almost all areas of application. This innovation can change working life positively in the most diverse directions.
Selected properties of nanopool® products have been examined by recognised research laboratories; all statements apply only to the tested products and test conditions.