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Abstract
Contemporary urban architecture faces two important issues: degradation of buildings, caused by exposure to various environmental factors (air and water pollution, mainly generated by the fuels combustion used for transport and heating) and also the costs for repair, cleaning and maintenance of the buildings facades. Regarding the last mentioned aspects, recent research led to development of materials with self-cleaning potential and consequently pollution reduction. Self-cleaning concrete represents a state-of-the-art material with photocatalytic properties generated by the addition in its composition of nanomaterials like TiO2. Already known for its intrinsic photocatalytic character, TiO2 has the ability to catalyse the decomposition of organic substances like grease and dirt, facilitating their quick removal only by rainwater action. Therefore, a building façade made of TiO2-SiO2-containing material develops substantial savings regarding maintenance costs, water consumption and less detergents contamination due to its intrinsic super hydrophilic effect of the surface in the presence of UV radiation, leading to easy dirt removal when water reaches it. The aim of present paper is presenting the latest stage of worldwide research regarding the obtaining of self-cleaning concrete and also the possibility of adapting the concept to the actual Romanian architecture needs, as a sustainable solution for urban pollution reduction.
Highlights
Nowadays the possibility of developing cementitious composites with self-cleaning properties is reported worldwide due to the photocatalytic properties of TiO2 nanoparticles, used as an addition or as a substitute for a part of cement, in the mix.The photocatalytic substance is a material activated by the action of sunlight or UV radiation, causing an oxidation-reduction reaction Titanium dioxide, TiO2
The most important property of TiO2, accidentally discovered in 1995, was regarding a composition of TiO2-SiO2, which, in the presence of UV radiation revealed the effect of surface superhydrophilicity
Another important feature of the TiO2-SiO2 compositions is that, unlike TiO2 whose photocatalytic activity ceases without UV radiation, the photocatalytic effect continues hours, even days after removal of the UV source
Summary
Nowadays the possibility of developing cementitious composites with self-cleaning properties is reported worldwide due to the photocatalytic properties of TiO2 nanoparticles, used as an addition or as a substitute for a part of cement, in the mix. The photocatalytic substance is a material activated by the action of sunlight or UV radiation, causing an oxidation-reduction reaction Titanium dioxide, TiO2 This is a crystalline substance, with photocatalytic properties, that can be found in three forms of crystallization: anatase, rutile and brookite. Another important feature of the TiO2-SiO2 compositions is that, unlike TiO2 whose photocatalytic activity ceases without UV radiation, the photocatalytic effect continues hours, even days after removal of the UV source The combination of these two photo-induced properties (photocatalytic and superhydrophilicity) is the basic mechanism of selfcleaning cementitious materials, with antibacterial, depollution, water and air purification properties [1]. The purpose of this paper is to present the latest stage of global research on concrete with self-cleaning properties and to adapt the concept to the current needs of Romanian architecture, as a sustainable solution for reducing urban pollution
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