Fungi like those tested in the study aggravate respiratory conditions when inhaled, but all of them need water in order to grow. By preventing water from resting on the surface of aluminium evaporators, manufacturers could significantly reduce their impact on indoor air quality.
The researchers addressed that issue by treating a test surface with a polymer and then adding oxalic acid, making the surface rough on both the nano and micro level and preventing water from sticking to it. By contrast, all of the other surfaces tested by the researchers allowed water to stick more easily – and ultimately ended up far more contaminated by the time it came to measure the test results.
SCIENCE
How a New Aluminium Coating Could Mean Cleaner Air
Korean scientist have found a promising new solution to keep aluminium evaporators clean and provide everyone cleaner air to breath.
December 1, 2015
Whether at home or in the office, it's more than likely your heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems rely on aluminium evaporators.
Far cheaper than copper, silver, or titanium, aluminium provides an affordable option for a part we all need. So far, the only downside was that such evaporators need regular cleaning in order to remove any and all microbes and bacteria that could proliferate on their surface. Now, however, a team of Korean engineers has found a promising new solution to keep aluminium evaporators clean and provide everyone cleaner air to breath.
In a new study, Yeongae Kim and Woonbong Hwang modified the "wettability" of an aluminium surface to determine whether they could prevent or contain the growth of microorganisms.
By turning the aluminium into a "superhydrophobic" surface, they successfully prevented contamination by three airborne fungi: penicillium, cladosporium, and aspergillus. Even when these fungi were able to latch on to the surface, they proved unable to spread.
By turning the aluminium into a "superhydrophobic" surface, they successfully prevented contamination by three airborne fungi: penicillium, cladosporium, and aspergillus. Even when these fungi were able to latch on to the surface, they proved unable to spread.
What makes a surface "superhydrophobic," and how does this help the average consumer?
By using their coating to keep the surface of the aluminium dry and clean, the team has potentially found a cost-effective way to give aluminium the same antimicrobial properties as other, more expensive metals. If these new findings are applied on the industrial scale, we may all soon be breathing a bit easier.