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Great works of architecture owe their enduring appeal as much to the choice of building materials as their classic lines, and every architect wants their design to have the same age-defying charm.
If anyone knows about longevity, it’s German ceramics manufacturer Agrob Buchtal, which has been perfecting ceramic building materials for 260 years and has now achieved a new level of innovation with its Hytect ceramic surface. This technologically advanced premium product – available in Australia exclusively through KLAY – stays beautifully preserved, with minimal maintenance, and all while delivering more hygienic spaces and even cleaner air.
While other commonly used facade materials such as aluminium, glass and paint require significant ongoing maintenance, Hytect is an easy-clean surface that has been designed to virtually look after itself. Ceramic facade systems incorporating Hytect, such as Agrob Buchtal’s KeraTwin, require no cleaning, with sun and rain on the surface repelling dirt and virtually eliminating the need for maintenance. Indoors, Hytect’s ability to repel dirt, mould and bacteria makes it an invaluable ingredient for hygiene, delivering healthier spaces with reduced need for cleaning agents.
The surface’s hydrophilic qualities make it resistant to dirt and grease, which cannot easily take hold; water does not penetrate, instead forming a fine film on the surface of the tiles, infiltrating dirt and washing it away. Even more impressive, the product is resistant to mould and bacteria; when light falls on the titanium dioxide-treated surface, it produces active oxygen via catalysis, combating bacteria and mould spores. This reaction works under all conventional light sources (not just sunlight), making it an ideal material for interior spaces such as bathrooms.
Hytect can even break down pollutants in the air, neutralising odours and pollutant molecules such as formaldehyde and nitric oxides, resulting in healthier living environments, inside and out. Its ability to actively repel microorganisms makes it an ideal surface wherever hygiene is a concern. Used in bathrooms (public and private), swimming pool complexes, commercial kitchens, medical facilities and wellness centres, it serves as an environmentally friendly way to maintain optimum hygiene while limiting the use of cleaning agents.
On building facades, Hytect’s self-washing effect means the building gets cleaned every time it rains, saving on the enormous cost of commercial cleaning and ensuring the structure retains its as-new appearance for years to come. By breaking down organic pollutants such as algae, moss and mould, Hytect tiles eliminate the issue of green stains on buildings.
Hytect’s air-cleansing ability makes it an ideal surface in spaces where odour can be an issue, from restaurants to hotel rooms and indoor pools. By reducing bacteria and fungi (which are responsible for many odours) and neutralising pollutants such as formaldehyde (commonly emitted by new carpets and furnishings), Hytect delivers more pleasant and healthier spaces. On exteriors, Hytect tiles neutralise significant quantities of nitric oxide and contribute towards building cleaner cities.
