TX ACTIVE – timeless technology for a better environment

TX Active is a technology based on the natural decomposition of substances through the action of light (photocatalysis) accelerated by the presence of a photocatalyst. The principle of photolysis has been known for a very long time, but its practical use in construction was hindered by the low speed of reactions and thus a negligible effect in breaking down unwanted substances. However, this has changed with the discovery of photocatalytic properties of certain nanocrystalline substances, primarily the very stable and non-toxic titanium dioxide.

Healthier Environment and Higher Aesthetic Standards
Like trees and greenery, materials carrying TX Active technology actively reduce the concentration of pollutants in the air and combat smog. The most significant source of health-hazardous nitrogen oxides (nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide) in urban environments is automobile traffic. Thanks to photocatalytic construction materials, it is possible to reduce their concentration in the atmosphere, thanks to the reactive surfaces made of TX Active material, which facilitate the breakdown of dangerous pollutants into other, non-toxic forms. The use of these materials is very suitable in the fight against smog, particularly in noise barriers, paving, or surfaces of roads and urban tunnel walls. In the monitored cases, the use of photocatalytic materials resulted in a significant reduction in pollutant concentrations.

Thanks to their self-cleaning properties, TX Active materials prevent the growth of algae, mosses, and lichens, and decompose organic impurities that adhere to the surface. Therefore, they are a good choice for architects and designers for realizations using exposed concrete (classic, prefabricated, monolithic concrete, or glass-fiber concrete). Self-cleaning concrete roofing, vibro-pressed, and vibro-cast products for road surfaces, landscape architecture, or urban furniture are also increasingly utilized.

TX Active in Practice
The positive effect of photocatalysis on air quality is evidenced by the reconstruction of the Umberto I tunnel in Rome in 2007. After using the TX Active technology, a 20% reduction in pollutants was demonstrated. A significant decrease in nitrogen oxides concentration also occurred in the center of Bergamo, Italy, along a 500-meter section of Borgo Palazzo street with a photoactive surface made of TX Active concrete. Similar results were achieved in projects in France and Sweden.

Umberto I tunnel and Dives in Misericordia church in Rome

Arguably the most well-known application of TX Active concrete is the Dives in Misericordia church in Rome. As a proponent of white as a symbol of perfection and purity, architect Richard Meier designed the building's façade in a bright white color. The results of colorimetric monitoring demonstrate the excellent color stability of exposed concrete.

Residential complex 12LOFTS in Bubenč, Prague, J.Eisler

In the Czech Republic, the first realization utilizing TX Active technology is the residential complex 12LOFTS in Bubenč, Prague. The building, completed in 2010, was designed by architect John Eisler, who also collaborated on the Dives in Misericordia project in Rome. The building's façade consists of a system of suspended prefabricated panels made of white TX Active concrete. The main benefit of this solution is to ensure long-term whiteness, which, along with the precise grid of panels, is a characteristic feature of this unique residential complex.

Thanks to photocatalysis, we can now work in construction with materials that lead to environmental improvement, enhance the aesthetic quality of buildings, and effectively connect with the surroundings, thus following the trend of a responsible approach to the quality of our lives

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