Abstract
Colour is an important property in many construction materials with pigments, coatings and paints being used primarily for aesthetic, safety and restoration purposes. However, the use of integral pigments in materials such as mortar and concrete can significantly increase material costs. Recovered toner powder (RTP) from printer and photocopier cartridges has the potential to be a low-cost and sustainable alternative pigment. The aim of this research was to examine the feasibility of using cyan, yellow, magenta and black RTP to create a range of colour options for mortar and concrete, and thereafter assess the colour stability in outdoor, indoor, ultraviolet and wet/dry conditions using the colour change parameter ΔE. The work showed that the RTP as a pigment could be blended to make a range of primary and secondary colours and had good colour stability in all environments with minimal impact on selected properties of hardened concrete.
Highlights
Colour in construction materials is a property that is often taken for granted and in many cases where colour is required it is often provided through applications of coatings and paints or additional materials such as cladding
The study focused on (a) a colour development study on cement pastes to determine the ease with which primary and secondary colours could be produced using recovered toner powder (RTP) as a pigment (b) a concrete weathering study to examine the likely performance of the RTP alongside a control concrete (c) a concrete surface study to examine the influence of controlled-permeability formwork (CPF) on RTP and non-RTP concrete properties
The aims of this study were to assess the feasibility of using powder recovered from toner printer cartridges as a viable pigment in concrete, determine the ease of creating primary and secondary colours and assess the performance of concrete in typical weathering environments
Summary
Colour in construction materials is a property that is often taken for granted and in many cases where colour is required it is often provided through applications of coatings and paints or additional materials such as cladding. Colour plays an important role in shaping the aesthetic qualities of structures, it is often used in many other ways, including providing safety hazard warnings and lane separation on highways, cycle paths and pedestrian walkways (Vera-Villarroel et al, 2016), to enhance solar reflectance on buildings and roofs (Levinson et al, 2010) and matching materials with original substrates, in the repair of historically sensitive structures (Rodríguez-Gordillo et al, 2007). These are all areas where integral pigments within the construction material itself is the preferred option. Three disc specimens were produced and tested for each colour combination
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Construction Materials
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
