New Mussel Shell Material Promises to Prevent Moss on Roofs

AN INNOVATIVE new material made from mussel shells promises to prevent the growth of moss on roofs.

Thanks to a collaboration between sustainable product company Pennog Ltd and material research scientists at Bangor University’s BioComposites Centre, research discovered that mussel shells have an ability to bind and release copper.

Gradual release of copper from Pennotec’s mussel shell-based composite material prevents the growth of green algae that cause unsightly staining of building surfaces. The product will also prevent the growth of moss on roofs and slime on wet surfaces, massively reducing the cost of home maintenance.

A closer look at the mussel shell-based composite material being developed.

Pennotec co-inventor, Dr Noel Roberts, said, “Conventional biocidal surface sprays that prevent growth of moss and slime last three years at most. This is expensive for homeowners and bad for the environment. Accelerated weathering tests at Bangor University predict that our product will prevent surface growth for up to 15 years, saving homeowners thousands of pounds and reducing the risk of roof damage from repeated cleaning.”

With such strong environmental credentials built into the material, Noel was keen to ensure that his product is truly circular and recycled at the end of its life.

“My invention replaces hazardous cleaning chemicals. Despite this, I knew that at the end of its useful life, my product could end up in landfill, and I wasn’t happy about that,” he said.

Recycling Mussel Composite

A new project to investigate the recycling of used mussel composite back into fresh product is underway with the support of DEFRA and the UK Research and Innovation’s Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre for Mineral-based Construction Materials.

Noel, and the Pennotec team are working with Dr Simon Curling, an expert in the life cycle and durability of building materials at Bangor University’s Biocomposites Centre. Simon said, “Using our capability to simulate years of weathering in the space of a few weeks, we are helping Noel to test and validate the performance and durability of his recycled material.”

Testing the material in Bangor University’s specialist weathering equipment, which can measure how materials react to sun, rain and being immersed in water.

Demonstrating that this kind of recycling is possible is only half the challenge in a construction industry that is notoriously linear in its use of materials. Construction generates more than a third of all waste hitting landfill sites.

Noel adds, “For a circular economy approach to work in practice, new thinking is required on how building material manufacturers finance and manage the recovery and re-processing of products.

“I hope to understand how the construction industry, financiers, housing associations and homeowners can be motivated to support the recycling of building materials at the end of their useful life.”

Watch the short video below to find out more:

>> Read more of the latest news