UNIT-IV

Lotusan
Light generating cement
LECTURE-10
ARC 1105: Advanced Materials

Prepared by Department of Design

Rohit Kumar
Lotusan
Lotus plant leaves stay dry even after rainfall. Water beds
on the surface and runs off like mercury. Dirt and other
residue roll off with the raindrops, so the leaves look clean
even after splashed with mud.

Sto Corp. has duplicated that ‘lotus effect’ in Lotusan, its

self-cleaning silicone exterior paint. Lotusan was introduced
to Europe in 1999.
The coating, after it is applied, mimics the microstructure of the
surface of a lotus leaf. Tiny peaks and valleys on the surface minimize
the contact area for water and dirt. As a result, the coating is highly
resistant to dirt, mold and mildew, and it offers excellent resistance to
weather, chalk and UV rays.
Lotusan is a flat finish paint available in 38 standard colors plus
custom color tints. The coating can be used for new construction
and recoat projects over concrete, stucco and fiber cement board
substrates.

Product Characteristics
• Water dilutable, physiologically and ecologically safe.
• Highly impermeable to water as soon as coating has cured.
• Effectively reduced adhesion of dirt particles.
• Excellent breathability for water vapor and CO2.
• Ideal protection against humidity and dirt, even for highly-
stressed weather-exposed facades.
• Easy application by brush, roller and airless spray.
• Mineral, extremely matt finish.

Cost:
To paint a 3000 sqft home externally, nearly 15 gallons of paint is
required. The cost of average quality paint per gallon is $25 to $40.
 Light-emitting concrete

can trap solar energy during the daytime and convert it into visible light in the night. According to the manufacture methods, light-
emitting concrete can be divided into three main categories: the luminous component mixed, the microstructure modified, and the
surface coated. The concrete emits soft light all the night without any electricity and contributes to energy conservation and low-
carbon eco-friendly environment. Light-emitting concrete enjoys promising application prospect in building environment
decoration, roads/lanes lighting, and expressway signs/safety.
This innovative cement was developed by Dr. Jose Carlos Rubio from the
Michoacan University of Saint Nicholas of Hidalgo in Mexico. The research
focused on modifying the microstructure of cement to absorb solar energy
and emit light in darkness.

Light-emitting cement is a green construction material.

It is recyclable and having estimated life of 100 years because of its organic
nature.

it is environmentally friendly because the gel is made out of sand, dust,

clay and water. The material has an estimated life span of 100
years because of the inorganic nature of the cement components. This new
material is sun-resistant and more durable compared with other
phosphorescent materials like plastics or paints, which decay with UV rays
in the long run.

The pollution in manufacturing is low compared to other types of cement

such as Portland or synthetic plastics.
Adding certain additives during manufacturing, scientists modified the optical properties of the material to make it
phosphorescent. However, it is manufactured like ordinary cement, but the change in the microscopic structure creates
a noncrystalline structure identical to the glass that allows passage of light inside.

The nature of phosphorescent materials is they absorb energy from the sun, in indoors from lights or lamps, and later
they emit light in dark hours. As the material energises every day with ultraviolet rays, the cement will be able to glow
for 12 hours even on cloudy days.
At present, there are three main feasible approaches to fabricate the concrete:
• mixing luminous aggregates or phosphor powers into concrete,
• modifying the microstructure of the concrete, and
• covering the concrete surface with a luminous coat.

A company name AGT has developed this technology. The aggregates can be fully charged in 10 min when exposed to natural light. Direct
sunlight is not required and the aggregates can be fully energized in 15–20 min using halogen, fluorescent, or incandescent light sources. The
aggregates will continue to glow for over 20 years, with a glow degradation of approximately 1 to 2% per year. After 20 years, they will be
performing at 60% capacity. Three optional colors are available: safety yellow, aqua blue, and sky blue.
Modifying the Microstructure of Concrete
In hardened concrete, crystal flakes are main byproduct and unnecessary matter for light emitting. When water is mixed with
cement, crystal flakes are formed that does not allow light to pierce its interior. In order to address this issue, researchers paid
much attention on modifying the microstructure of cement aiming to eliminate the crystals and make it permeable to light.
José Carlos Rubio, from Michoacan’s University of San Nicolas of Hidalgo in Mexico, has created a light-emitting cement
Covering the Concrete Surface with Luminous Coat
Researchers in Purdue University developed a soy-based luminescent sealant, a powder mixture of soy methyl ester
polystyrene (SME-PS, showed in Fig. 16.4) and strontium aluminate that slowly luminesced after being excited by light [6]. The
sealant covered the surface of the common concrete and a type of new light-emitting concrete was completed.

The results indicates that the luminescent surface emits light for
approximately 24 h in the dark place after being exited and the larger
particles of strontium aluminate luminesce for a longer time against the
smaller particles
References:
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-10-4349-9_16
https://www.buildersmart.in/blogs/light-emitting-cement
https://www.sanghicement.com/light-emitting-cement-for-smart-construction/
https://theconstructor.org/building/smart-materials/light-emitting-cement/210471/
https://www.archdaily.com/800904/this-cement-generates-light