Characterization of durability and photocatalytic properties of TiO_2 cement-based materials

摘要

The issue of maintenance is steadily emerging in the framework of the built environment, with a specific focus on durability and service life planning and sustainability evaluations, as the definition of a maintenance plan for building components requires a preventative assessment of durability. The aim of the experimental campaign here presented is to evaluate the durability of different cement based materials containing TiO_2 (anatase). Accelerated aging tests were conducted in a climatic chamber to evaluate the performance decay and physical degradation over time, in order to study the effect of composition and surface finishing on the durability and photocatalytic properties. Results achieved constitute a starting point for predicting the service life of building components, granting the transfer of information from materials to systems, in this case the cement based building envelope. Information promotes wise planning of maintenance interventions and control of the global costs.