| Glowing Concrete
Decorative Home
>Applications and Products> Glowing
Concrete
The Finishing Touch: A Bright Spot
in the Decorative Concrete Landscape
Photoluminescent aggregate adds a new material to the decorative
concrete arsenal. The resin-based aggregate, either fine (sand)
or coarse (stone) sized, contains a special nontoxic additive that
the manufacturer claims allows it to glow for 10 to 12 hours after
just 10 minutes of light exposure. By day, the aggregate is a neutral,
pale yellow or white, but in low light they glow bright green or
blue after exposure to either natural or artificial light.
 |
 |
Suitable for both interior and exterior applications of cast-in-place,
terrazzo, precast, and stucco, the aggregate is most visually effective
and cost efficient when placed at the surface of concrete, so seeding
is a preferred application method. A number of traditional finishes
can be applied, including stamping, polishing, or exposed aggregate.
Using one particle per 3 sq. in. as a guide, the manufacturer suggests
that one lb of material will cover approximately:
- 16 sq ft (for ½-in. stone)
- 32 sq ft (for ¼-in. stone)
- 48 sq ft (for large/coarse sand)
Uses for the aggregate are virtually unlimited. They range from purely
decorative applications to more practically oriented applications,
such as for safety or where passive lighting would be beneficial.
For instance, the manufacturer suggests that used in the right amount,
the glowing aggregates cast enough light for safely navigating pathways
at night, including emergency egress routes, pedestrian and vehicle
traffic direction, etc. They could also be useful for identifying
obstacles like stairways or other objects that could become hazards
to pedestrians in the dark.
Potential benefits include a reduction in the number of light fixtures
or complete elimination in some applications, saving energy on electricity
and reducing light pollution. These finishes emit no VOCs and can
add to a project’s sustainability. The luminescent property
is said to last about 15 years. More
on glowing concrete.
|
 |
|