Prevention of photocatalytic deterioration of resins using TiO2 pillared fluoromica

The TiO2 pillared fluoromica powder was kneaded with polylactic acid resin. The composite showed high photocatalytic activity for degradation of acetaldehyde and toluene gas, especially at the range of 1–3 wt.% pillared mica powder, and this photocatalytic activity was higher than that of resins containing even higher amounts of commercial TiO2 (P-25, Degussa). The composite test pieces of pillared mica showed smaller photocatalytic deterioration than the samples with P-25 powder in out-door weathering tests. Thus, the TiO2 pillared clay resin composite shows excellent prevention of photocatalytic deterioration and high photocatalytic activity in comparison with P-25.