Answers to frequent questions about PURETi  

A: PURETi is sold in liquid form consisting of 99% water and 1% nano Titanium Oxide (TiO2) encapsulated in water. When sprayed onto a surface, PURETi dries in seconds and cures in 24-36 hours to form a clear, hard, water permeable, inorganic mineral film that is 40nm thin. To put this in perspective, 1nm = 1 billionth of a meter, and 40nm (working thickness for PURETi to do its job) = 1/25,000 the thickness of a business card.

Chemical and physical bonds – Van der Waals forces and hydrogen hooks- bond PURETi to the material being treated, making it a very durable, tightly bonded mineral film that can be described as a polymeric like ceramic.

A: PURETi’s patented production process results in a solution that can be spray-applied to form a clear, durable, thin mineral film on virtually any construction material – glass, metal, stone, concrete, paint, plastic, etc. When ultraviolet light (from the sun or fluorescent tubes) energizes the TiO2 crystal in PURETi-applied nano-thin mineral films, an energy band gap is created within the crystal that causes it to act like a magnet and pull a hydrogen atom off H2O molecules that are present in everyday humidity, leaving a hydroxyl radical (OH-).

The hydroxyl radical (OH-) is the strongest non-poisonous oxidizing agent in nature and literally acts like a pac-man to rip apart the carbon hydrogen bonds in any organic compound that comes in contact with it. All of this happens in nanoseconds and within angstroms of the PURETi-treated surface. The TiO2 in PURETi serves as a catalyst to trigger these reactions (safely decomposing organic matter into H2O and CO2) and does not get consumed in these reactions. In the presence of light, PURETi becomes a perpetual hydroxyl radical creator. Short-chain hydrocarbons get destroyed the fastest, with longer-chained molecules taking longer. No heat is generated by the photocatalytic process.

A second set of reactions is equally powerful at combatting urban smog. This happens when the photocatalytic process causes an electron to pop onto an oxygen molecule, creating O2-, a super-oxide aniline. This interacts with SO2 and NO2, the chief ingredients in smog, reducing these molecules to relatively harmless neutrals.

PURETi is also super-hydrophilic, which makes glass super-slippery. As a result, rain sheets off, taking organic dirt particles with it. It also makes glass non-fogging.

PURETi is non-flammable, and will quickly disperse if spilled.

A: Since TiO2 acts as a catalyst that does not get consumed by the photocatalytic process, it will continue doing its job as long as it is not physically scraped off or painted over. While the layer of TiO2 is extremely thin (40nm), it is inorganic and extremely tough, making it very hard to remove./span>

A: Yes. TiO2 is GRAS (generally regarded as safe) according to the FDA and European Science Commission has determined TiO2 to be safe in all forms – active and inactive, nano and micro. The National Sanitation Foundation has registered PURETi as safe for material surface contact. NIOSH has found PURETi application methods to be safe. There are no respirable powders with PURETi and near zero risk of human contact. Independent university tests have found that PURETi requires great force to abrade and that it abrades in flakes larger than 100nm and above the threshold of concern.

A: Activation occurs immediately after the source of UV light is turned on; however, it takes a while for all the hydrocarbons, VOC’s, NOx and SOx in a room or in the air outside a building or solar panel to come in contact with the TiO2 crystals.

Effective residence time can be speeded up by pulling more of the polluted air per unit of time in close proximity to PURETi, where it can be destroyed. Deactivation occurs within minutes after the source of UV light is removed..

A: Since most indoor dust consists of skin and hair particles, which are organic, PURETi will consume these forms of dust as they come in contact with a PURETi-treated surface.

Inorganic dust (ie sand) will still be attracted to PURETi-cleaned windows, but without the “sticky” organic grime to stick to, inorganic dust will fall off.

Outdoors, inorganic fine sand on a PURETi-treated solar panel can be easily blown off by a strong wind gust or leaf-blower, whereas it will continue to stick to untreated panels.

PURETi can be overwhelmed if the amount of dust, grime, algae or mold buildup occurs too quickly and blocks light.

A: Since PURETi is 99% water, it leaves a visible sheen as it is being applied, so any missed spot is immediately visible.

A: Teflon, polypropylene, wax, silicone and embossed stainless steel that’s designed to look like aluminum – (PURETi will tend to pool in the cracks and look milky).