Sustainable Use of Traditional Geomaterials in Construction Practice
Geomaterials derived from the Earth’s crust and used in construction after appropriate processing are among the earliest raw materials exploited, processed and used by humans. Their numerous functional properties include accessibility, workability and serviceability, and these are explored within this volume. In modern society, sustainable use of raw materials, specifically those exploited in large volumes such as geomaterials for construction, raises questions of reducing extraction of primary resources and thus minimizing impacts on natural systems, and also employment of materials and technologies to lower emissions of deleterious substances into the atmosphere. This will be possible only if we fully understand the properties, processing and mode of use of traditional geomaterials. Although most of the papers within this volume were written by geologists, the contributions will also be of interest to those working in cultural heritage, monument conservation, civil engineering and architecture.
TiO2–SiO2–PDMS nanocomposites with self-cleaning properties for stone protection and consolidation
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Published:January 01, 2016
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CiteCitation
Chrysi Kapridaki, Noni-Pagona Maravelaki, 2016. "TiO2–SiO2–PDMS nanocomposites with self-cleaning properties for stone protection and consolidation", Sustainable Use of Traditional Geomaterials in Construction Practice, R. Přikryl, Á. Török, M. Gomez-Heras, K. Miskovsky, M. Theodoridou
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Abstract
This study deals with the design of two hydrophobic hybrid SiO2–TiO2 materials and their application in the field of monument conservation. The nanocomposite consolidants were based on the modification of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with the incorporation of both TiO2 nanoparticles and hydroxyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The TiO2 nanoparticles have been prepared from the hydrolysis of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) in the presence of oxalic acid as a catalyst. The physico-chemical properties of the designed hydrophobic nanocrystalline SiO2–TiO2–PDMS composites have been extensively studied before their application as consolidants on a limestone. Overall, the effectiveness of the nanocomposites was evaluated by the comparative characterization of untreated and treated stone specimens. The results of both capillary water absorption and contact angle measurements point out that the TiO2–SiO2–PDMS nanocomposites functioned as hydrophobic coatings. Furthermore, the results obtained from microdrilling resistance and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed a penetration depth of the nanocomposites within the stone of c. 15 mm. The innovation of these syntheses pertains to the application of hydrophobic semi-transparent and transparent nanocomposites with self-cleaning and strengthening properties, without altering the colour of the stone surface and the water vapour permeability.
- absorption
- civil engineering
- color
- conservation
- consolidation
- construction materials
- dimension stone
- DTA data
- electron microscopy data
- engineering geology
- engineering properties
- experimental studies
- FTIR spectra
- geochemical methods
- hydrophobic materials
- infrared spectra
- limestone deposits
- metals
- methods
- microstructure
- physicochemical properties
- protection
- SEM data
- silica
- spectra
- TGA data
- titanium
- X-ray diffraction data
- polydimethylsiloxane
- nanocomposites