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Photocatalytic coloured rendering mortars: effect of TiO2 and iron oxide pigments on the physical, mechanical, hygric, and photoactive behaviour

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Abstract

This paper discusses the physical, mechanical, hygric, and photoactive behaviour of photocatalytic coloured rendering mortars. 4% yellow, 4% brown, and 6% black iron oxide pigments were studied with 0%, 5%, and 10% titanium dioxide (TiO2) contents concerning white cement weight, resulting in twelve mortar types, including references. Mainly the addition of TiO2 and yellow pigment affected and reduced the mixtures’ flowability. Besides, mortars’ production was challenging due to the standard material quantities and execution methods. The presence of fine materials, the aggregates’ granulometry and the addition of superplasticiser resulted in mortars with high cohesion, entraining air; so, decreases in bulk density and, in some cases, mechanical strength were verified, especially for increasing contents of TiO2. Water absorption by capillarity decreased with the photocatalyst addition, while a minor impact was verified on the water vapour diffusion resistance factors. The pigments did not significantly influence the hygric behaviour. The photocatalytic efficacy of TiO2 was confirmed by RhB degradation tests. Mortars without pigments led to the highest colour differences (ΔE) throughout irradiation exposure irrespectively of the presence of 5% or 10% photocatalyst; yellow and brown mortars had increasing RhB degradation with increasing TiO2 contents and lower ΔE results than the specimens with no pigment. Black mortars were not efficiently evaluated through RhB degradation. The study’s novelty addresses the gap in understanding the combined effects of TiO2 with iron oxide pigments, and the investigation is primarily relevant to the practical application of photocatalytic coloured mortars in building facades, seeking aesthetic, economic and environmental benefits.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior), grant number 88887.702359/2022-00, and CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico). The authors would like to thank LAMTAC (Laboratório de Materiais e Tecnologia do Ambiente Construído), LACER (Laboratório de Materiais Cerâmicos), LINCE (Laboratório de Inovação em Cimentos Ecoeficientes), PPGCI (Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Civil: Construção e Infraestrutura), and UFRGS (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul).

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  1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Civil: Construção e Infraestrutura (PPGCI), Núcleo Orientado para a Inovação da Edificação (NORIE), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Osvaldo Aranha, 99, 7th Floor, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-190, Brazil

    Jéssica Deise Bersch, Angela Borges Masuero & Denise Carpena Coitinho Dal Molin

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Bersch, J.D., Masuero, A.B. & Dal Molin, D.C.C. Photocatalytic coloured rendering mortars: effect of TiO2 and iron oxide pigments on the physical, mechanical, hygric, and photoactive behaviour. Mater Struct 56, 146 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-023-02240-7

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