A LOCAL company has started mass producing a special coating for outdoor paint that it says can automatically clean away mildew and fungus.
Local paint distributor Haruna, in conjunction with the Singapore Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star), unveiled the film yesterday.
The coating, called photocatalytic Titanium Dioxide, is applied on top of paint and could save places like shopping malls tens of thousands of dollars a year in cleaning bills.
When exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun, the film reacts with oxygen in the air to repel the mould, fungus and bacteria that normally cling to surfaces.
It also provides a protective layer against dust, dirt and exhaust fumes, allowing the grime to be easily washed away, said Haruna director Mr Yukio Yanase.
The compound was developed by scientists from A*Star, who yesterday signed an agreement with Haruna to mass-produce it locally.
Mr Lee Han Boon, vice-president of commercialisation at A*Star Exploit Technologies - the commercial arm of A*Star - said the film would be a boon for buildings here, especially expensive-to-clean skyscrapers.
Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.
