Durability and mechanical performance of a photo-catalytic water-based nanocomposite coating

摘要

Graphical abstractDisplay OmittedHighlights?Waterborne acrylic photoactive coatings prepared using TiO2/SiO2nanoparticles.?Nanoparticles in forms of treated, composite, and blend loaded in the coatings.?Both photo-activity and durability of the coatings were evaluated and balanced.?TTIP/TEOS composite nanoparticles provide optimum performance in coatings.AbstractIn this study, different combinations of nanoparticles including; TiO2, SiO2, silica grafted TiO2, titania grafted SiO2, physical blends of TiO2/SiO2nanoparticles and nanocomposite particles made of titanium tetra-isopropoxide/tetraethylorthosilicate (TTIP/TEOS) precursors, were loaded into an acrylic emulsion coating. Photo-activity of the coatings was evaluated through the photo-degradation of Rhodamine B dyestuff, as a pollutant model, on the surface of the coatings under UVA irradiation. The coating films were exposed to accelerated weathering conditions for different time intervals. As the criteria for durability of the coatings, morphology and topology of coatings surface were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopic (AFM) techniques, respectively. Mechanical properties of the coatings were assessed before and after exposure to accelerated weathering conditions. The results exhibited a favorable balance of photocatalytic activity and mechanical properties in the coatings containing TTIP/TEOS nano-composite particles even after exposing to the accelerated weathering conditions.]]>