In June, 3M’s Industrial Mineral Products Division launched a smog-reducing granules product that can be applied to asphalt shingles and a wide range of roofing materials.
Through the incorporation of a UV-activated photocatalytic coating layer, 3M’s smog-reducing granules transform smog into water soluble molecules.
The granules are fused into shingle surfaces during the design process, specifically measured to fully blend in with other roofing materials. Similar to other 3M roofing products, the new smog-reducing granules also serve as a protective membrane for the asphalt layer of the shingle.
Smog, or tropospheric pollution, derives from reactions between oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds. Sources are myriad, ranging from motor vehicle exhaust to chemical solvents.
In a statement, senior laboratory manager Frank Klink describes the roofing product as “a first for residential asphalt shingles” that will “help roofing manufacturers develop high quality, aesthetically-pleasing shingles that can turn any roof into an active smog reducing catalyst, essentially becoming smog’s enemy.”
