Lotusan Self-Cleaning Paint
The lotus plant is a symbol of cleanliness and purity in some Eastern religions, which makes sense considering that the plant essentially cleans itself.
A lotus plant’s leaves stay dry even after a rainfall. Water beads on the surface and runs off like mercury. Dirt and other residue roll off with the raindrops, so the leaves look clean even after being 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, and now, it’s being sold in North America for the first time.
Lotusan’s extreme resistance to water is a product of Sto technology. 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.
 The new surface technology also reduces the risk of attack by microorganisms. Algae and fungal spores are either washed off or are unable to survive on a dry and dirt-free exterior. According to a 2002 study, the level of germs on a Lotusan surface after three years was 90 per cent lower than that on surface coated with a conventional paint product.
With typical paints, water drops flatten and streak instead of beading and rolling off like they do with Lotusan. Even Sto’s other silicone coatings don’t resist moisture nearly as well, says Sto market manager Bryce Brandon. “We haven’t seen any other paint products that compare as far as staying dry when moisture hits it.”
And since dirt rolls off with water, exteriors treated with this coating tend to retain their good looks. “Your buildings are just going to stay clean for a long, long time,” Brandon says.
Lotusan boasts high water-vapor permeability. Applicators who have tested the paint have praised its performance in other areas too, Brandon says. “They thought it went on really smooth. The hiding power, they said, was really good.”
Lotusan is a flat finish paint available in 38 standard colors (Sto’s “classic color collection”) plus custom color tints. The coating can be used for new construction and recoat projects over concrete, stucco, EIFS, and fiber cement board substrates.
For more information, visit www.stocorp.com or call (800) 221-2397 or (404) 346-3666.
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