In a school gymnasium in Montelupo Fiorentino, bathrooms and shower rooms has been rebuilt with tiles painted with a titan-dioxide nanoparticles-based product of PAR.NA.SOS PHOTO, made by Colorobbia Italia SPA, Sovigliana (Firenze). Since this operation has been described as an advanced system, we have heard Dr. Giovanni Baldi, the director of Ce.Ri.Col., wich is the research centre of the tuscan company.

DR. BALDI, WHAT IS THE LINK BEETWEEN NANOPARTICLES AND A TILE PAINT? Nanotecnologic materials are not a kind reserved for some border-line, ?straatospheric? applications: in the future (and also, why not, in the present-day situation) they will affirm their presence in the everyday life, also in the paint sector. The base of nanotecnology is that some materials, if made by particles smaller than 0,1 micron show, in addition to their classic properties, other and particular characteristics. Titan Bioxide, wich is a commonly used in paints production, is one of these materials. So we have producted a TiO₂ nanoparticles suspencion wich joints the usual properties onf this composite wich other particular ones.

LAUNCHING THIS PRODUCT, WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS? PAR.NA.SOS PHOTO paints are a new series of TiO₂ nanoparticles based paints characterized by a series of advantages against traditional paints, particularly in the sanification side.

SANIFICATION? Oh, yes! One of the main characteristics of TiO₂ nanoparticles is to generate, if excited by light, free radicals that make links with organic moleculas, destroing them. So, they are a powerful battericide really, without the human health implications of the classical treatment based upon insecticides and pesticides. Another matter is the occurence on the surface treated with PAR.NA.SOS. PHOTO of oxyhydriles wich get on an extremely high nettability, so the surface is easy to clean. So we can say that PAR.NA.SOS PHOTO is a product with great hygenical advantages: a wall treated with PAR.NA.SOS PHOTO is a wall with high anti-bacterial characteristics and a wall from wich the dirt is easy to cut off.

WHAT LIGTH PAR.NA.SOS. PHOTO NEEDS TO EXHIBIT THIS BEAVIOUR? Not only sun light, but all the avaiable bulbs (traditonal, neon - light, and the ones madewithnew technologies) produce the right wavelenght that allow PARNASOS PHOTO to work well.

WHAT IS THE TOXICITY OF TIO2 NANOPARTICLES? Toxicity trials on tiles treated with PAR.NA.SOS PHOTO have given conformity results, so they are not toxic. I wish to emphasize that TiO2 is hardly adherent and particles release risk is very low. In the product development we have had the goal to obtain a paint with the maximum adhesion power, also for long time. Furthermore, we think that a system wich allows a depletion in using detergent and other sanification products is without fall a forward march for human health and environmental impact.

WERE DO YOU THINK PARNASOS PHOTO WILL BE APPLIED? Above all in health services (hospitals, analysis laboratories, medical consulting centers) and everywere in structures in wich pass or stay a great number of people (schools, public offices, trade centers, train stations, airports). Moreover many surfaces can be painted with PAR.NA.SOS PHOTO (wood, metal, ceramics, walls) either with a spry gun as with serigraphy systems.

HOW LONG DOES PAR.NA.SOS PHOTO EXHIBIT THIS BEHAVIOUR? The duration is strictly connected with the type of surface. In ceramic tiles is now 8 years.

SO PAR.NA.SOS PHOTO REPRESENTS A GREAT FORWARD MARCH IN THE PAINT HISTORY... Certainly! Their application will carry on a lot of advantages, expecially wherever hygiene and cleanliness are requested.

Aldo Piombino