Inexpensive, and easy to use self cleaning mixtures that use photoactive agents such as titanium dioxide(TiO.sub.2) and tungsten oxide(WO.sub.3) along with mixing the agents with co-catalysts such as carbon(C), Fe(iron), Cu(copper), Ni(nickel) and CO.sub.2 P. In addition, the co-catalyst loading can include up to approximately 5% carbon to maximize the inhibiting algae growth. The mixtures can be used to inhibit various growth organisms such as but not limited to algae, fungus, bacteria and mold. The agents can be combined together, and/or each agent can be combined with various coatings, such as but not limited to a cement or a polymer binder. The coatings can be applied to surfaces that are exposed to water such as but not limited to an aquarium, liners on the inner walls of swimming pools, drinking water tanks, and the like. Additionally, the coatings can be used as surfacing agent in contact with water within solar water heaters, piping adjacent to pool pumps, and the like. Additionally, the photoactive agent can be used as a non-toxic algae-retardant marine paint. Furthermore, the coatings can be applied to surfaces such as bathroom fixtures, toilets, bathtubs, sinks, and used on tiles in kitchens, bathrooms, and the like.
This application is a division of 09/491,051 filed Jan. 25, 2000.
This invention relates to inhibiting the growth of fresh water and sea water plant life, and in particular to self cleaning photocatalytic surfacing agents and in particular to applying co-catalysts such as C, Co.sub.2 P, Co, Ni, Fe, Mn and Cu by various methods to photocatalysts such as TiO.sub.2 (titanium dioxide) and WO.sub.3 (tungsten oxide), and is a related to U.S. application Ser. No. 09/263,309 filed Mar. 5, 1999 to the same inventor and assignee and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,994,268, which is a Divisional application of Ser. No. 08/859,348 filed on May 20, 1997, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,880,067 to the same inventor and same assignee as this invention, both of which are incorporated by reference. This invention also relates to U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,992 issued on May 21, 1996 by the same inventor and same assignee thereof, whose subject matter is also incorporated by reference.
