BATHROOM MEMBER

• Main Authors: KOJIMA EIICHI, KITAMURA ATSUSHI, HAYAKAWA MAKOTO
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 25.09.2001
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ADHESIVES; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; CHEMISTRY; COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES ORLACQUERS; COFFEE MILLS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; DYES; FILLING PASTES; FURNITURE; HUMAN NECESSITIES; INKS; METALLURGY; MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS; MISCELLANEOUS COMPOSITIONS; NATURAL RESINS; PAINTS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; POLISHES; SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TOILET ACCESSORIES; TRANSPORTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR; WOODSTAINS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent sticking or generation of slimime on the floor of a bathroom, a washing room, a bathtub or a duckboard. SOLUTION: A bathroom member is covered with a photocatalyst which is photoexcited until its surface becomes super hydrophilic with a value of converted contact angle with water less than 10 degree. As hydrophobic organic substances such as insoluble soap scum or fats are not only difficult to stick to the super hydrophilic surface but easily washed away by shower or wetting with water, the surface photocatalytic layer is kept clean. Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungus, or yeasts present on the surface of the bathroom member are effectively killed by a photo-oxidation action of the photocatalyst.