Decorative Materials Research Articles

Embodied water-energy nexus towards sustainable building construction: Case of conventional Indian houses

Amid global water concerns and understanding ferocious water consumption in building construction entails attending to the construction embodied water (EW)- an infant realised domain. Let alone the practised embodied energy (EE); the study attempts to unleash a pragmatic guide to building construction sustainability through the EW-EE nexus. The cradle-to-gate study covers three conventional Indian houses in Jammu. It complies with general ISO-14044 and 14046 frameworks while consulting both-Indian and global material-wise EE and EW consumption databases. The hybrid approach adopted involves quota sampling, field-based investigations, descriptive statistics, and regression plots. The comprehensive system loop analysis seeks disaggregated (house-wise) and aggregated results. The Indian constructions reflect improved 7158 MJ/m2 EE but severe 16.7 kL/m2 EW vis-à-vis global scientific studies. Steel is no-longer the topmost EW-impacting material for Indian conventional houses, while stone aggregates, finishing, and decoration materials stand apart in elevating EW. Unearthing the weak EW-EE relationship underlines the incapability of EE-driven research to address EW effectively in the houses. As it stands, Architectural plus design (A + D) decision-making aiming to reduce EW also checks EE. Thus, EW deserves contemplation rather than EE alone in realising a holistic, sustainable built environment (SBE). Alongside consolidating EE research, the scarce EW domain receives much-needed dissemination. Besides striving to stimulate the scientific community, outcomes like the identified materials template are valuable for devising policy and A + D advocacy vis-à-vis EW-EE conservation. Seeking conventional building construction and design solutions through the EW-EE nexus is novel and meets multiple 2030 sustainable development goals.

ПРОБЛЕМИ РЕСТАВРАЦІЇ СКУЛЬПТУР З РОМАНСЬКОГО ЦЕМЕНТУ В АРХІТЕКТУРІ ЛЬВОВА ДРУГОЇ ПОЛОВИНИ ХІХ – ПОЧАТКУ ХХ СТ.

For the architecture of Lviv II half 19 - the beginning of the 20th century characteristic use of roman cement as a decorative material. Thanks to this, a significant amount of sculptural decor in Lviv during this period was made using roman cement. According to various classifications, architectural decor is architectural, monumental or decorative- monumental sculpture, which in turn is divided into relief and three-dimensional sculpture. Depending on the type of sculpture, the methods of its manufacture, mounting and placement on the facade differ. This affects the state of preservation and the processes of destruction of sculptures. The purpose of the article is to consider the types of sculpture made of roman cement found in the architecture of the 2nd half 19 century - the beginning of the 20th century. To analyze the factors affecting the destruction of sculptures and the possibility of applying preventive measures to stop their destruction. It is necessary to consider the technological features of the restoration of voluminous sculptures made of Roman cement on the facades of buildings and the problems that arise during the work. The article examines the peculiarities of placement of sculptures made of roman cement in the architecture of Lviv. Factors affecting the state of preservation of these sculptures are indicated. Based on the analysis of four restored objects, cartograms of their losses are given, classification of the state of preservation of the sculptures and the generalized technology of their restoration are proposed. The problems of restoration of sculptures made of Roman cement are outlined. To save such sculptures from further destruction, a number of preventive measures are proposed. Taking into account the difference in the preservation of the sculptures, it is possible to single out the main factor of their destruction - the destructive influence of water caused by drainage problems. Therefore, the main task of the preventive protection of sculptures is to inspect the facades for the presence of jamming, in case of their detection, to carry out urgent repair work to eliminate it. It is recommended to conduct a search for roman cement sculptures in the architecture of Lviv, their cataloging and condition monitoring.

Research on the Application of Architectural Decoration Materials in Interior Design

As an important part of the interior design, the architectural decoration materials can effectively improve the effect of the interior design, and make the interior design to meet people’s aesthetic needs. Based on this, the study analyzes the application of architectural decorative materials in interior design. Firstly, the paper introduces the common types of architectural decorative materials, such as metal materials, non-metallic materials, composite materials, etc. Secondly, analyzes the artistic attributes and characteristics of decorative materials; finally, analyzes the specific application of architectural decorative materials in interior design.

Fixation of Coal Fly Ash (CFA) in the Form of Construction Blocks with Variable Combinations of Lime and FGD Gypsum

Coal fly ash (CFA) is produced on very large scales in thermal energy plants. The recycling of coal fly ash (CFA) is essential decreasing its environmental impact. In this research, a FaL-G (coal fly ash (CFA), lime, and FGD gypsum) technology is used to reuse coal fly ash (CFA) in brick-type form. First, all of the small-grained FaL-G were dried in the oven at 60and#176;C for 24 h. Three different combinations of coal fly ash (CFA), FGD gypsum, and lime were tested for block preparation. The blocks were treated with five conditions for hardening and drying, i.e., i. Sunlight, ii. Shade (room temperature), iii. Oven, iv. Presence of moisture, and v. Freezer (-16and#176;C). After complete drying, the compressive strength and flexural strength tests were applied. Over all, the sunlight treated blocks showed strong compressive strength of 5.9 MPa and flexural strength of 7.19 MPa. The blocks made through FaL-G technology are very good raw materials for construction, i.e., partition walls and decoration, as these blocks have impressive texture and plain edges. It was the first time that the variable combinations of coal fly ash (CFA), gypsum, and lime were tested through different conditions and have achieved good strength. The literature showed that little work has been carried out through FaL-G, while additional materials have also been used. The main novelty of the current research work is development of an enhanced technique for preparing building materials, stabilizing coal fly ash (CFA), and reducing its environmental hazards

Інструментарій стратегії інтернет-маркетингу підприємства

In today’s business environment, it is important to have effective tools to develop and maintain a successful online marketing enterprise. Strategic use of online resources can significantly increase sales, increase brand awareness, and improve interaction with the audience. Tools for analyzing, planning, and implementing online marketing strategies are becoming key factors in ensuring the competitiveness and sustainability of enterprises in the digital age. This article explores the modern tools of the Internet marketing strategy, highlighting its key components and impact on the successful operation of enterprises in the modern digital world. The article demonstrates the use of Internet marketing on the example of a company specializing in the production of modern facing and insulation materials for facade and interior decoration. It is highlighted that the use of marketing in the Internet environment cannot be a universal template strategy, since each enterprise forms its own strategy by analyzing the target audience, assessing the competitive landscape and taking into account its own business goals. It is found that the definition of an effective Internet marketing strategy is the result of a unique approach of each enterprise to solving its own tasks and meets its specific needs and conditions. In addition, this paper examines the essence of the concept of "Internet marketing", considers various options for interpreting this definition offered in scientific sources. The importance of continuous improvement of marketing strategies for the successful operation of an enterprise in a rapidly changing information environment, introduction of new technologies and increased competition for consumer attention is emphasized. It is noted that this process is continuous and critical for achieving success in modern business.

Value chain analysis of jute fiber in Bangladesh

Jute often referred to as Bangladesh's “golden fiber” offers numerous environmental advantages along with significant industrial and economic importance. It is a crucial source of export earnings for Bangladesh. Beyond its use in house decoration materials, jute is employed in the production of twine, mats, carpets, sacks, and hessian clothing, among other products. This study aimed to assess the value chain of jute fiber in Bangladesh. Primary data were collected from 90 jute farmers and 233 chain participants across different stages of the value chain selected through simple random and purposive sampling, respectively, in 2019. Mapping strategies and marketing margins were employed to analyse the value addition of each actor. The benefit-cost ratio of 1.44 demonstrates the profitability of jute cultivation. The study identified that the highest share of the total value addition by farmers was 52.80% through the ‘Farmer-Faria-Kutcha Baler-Mill’ channel in Faridpur district, 59.66% through the ‘Farmer-Faria-Aratdar-Mill’ channel in Rangpur district, 60.52% through the ‘Farmer-Faria-Aratdar-Mill’ channel in Dinajpur district, and 58.87% through the ‘Farmer-Faria-Aratdar-Mill’ channel in Kishoreganj district. Per quintal, gross and net marketing margins for farmers were Taka 569 and Taka 537, respectively. Pucca balers cum exporters accounted for the highest proportion of gross marketing margin (41.30%) and net marketing margin (44.34%), while Farias contributed the lowest share (6.77% and 3.63%). Finally, based on the research findings, several policy measures are recommended to revitalize this potential sector in Bangladesh.

Utilization of Bio-waste Mussel Shell as a Decoration Material on LiCoO2 Cathode

In this study, thermochemical conversion of mussel shells as biological waste utilizations has been made as a protection layer for cathode active materials. LiCoO2 material synthesized via sol-gel method and coated with CaO produced using mussel shells. An appropriate coating ratio enhances the cycling performance with a better specific capacity (170 mAh g-1 at 1C). Surface modification plays a crucial role in attaining an improved performance of LCO by reducing its interference between electrolytes. This study present the use of biological waste mussel shell as decoration agent for cathode active materials and lead up to decrease the amount of biological wastes.

A self-cleaning window for high-efficiency photodegradation of indoor formaldehyde

Formaldehyde (HCHO) as an indoor air pollutant released by new furniture and decorative materials is of great concern. Developing a self-cleaning device to remove HCHO is an ideal way to improve indoor air quality. In this study, a self-cleaning window with a multilayered structure constructed from fluorine-doped tin oxide/bismuth tungstate/resorcinol-formaldehyde resin (FTO/Bi2WO6/RF) has been fabricated, which is capable of degrading HCHO in natural indoor condition. The as-fabricated device could utilize the natural room light and promote the generation and transfer of the photocatalytic carriers in Bi2WO6, which subsequently delivers a good catalytic oxygen reduction efficiency in RF to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The as-synthesized H2O2 could further split into hydroxyl radicals (•OH), then oxide the HCHO molecules in the air. The present study demonstrates a novel and efficient strategy to fabricate a transparent multifunctional window for self-cleaning indoor gaseous pollutants, the concept is of great importance to be expanded in a broad range of indoor furniture for in-house air pollution control.

Preparation and characterization of cellulose nanofibril/chitosan aerogels with high-adsorbability and sensitive indication for indoor free formaldehyde

The toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), especially formaldehyde (FA), released from decoration materials pose a great threat to human health. In this study, formaldehyde adsorption performance of the specially formulated nanocellulose/chitosan aerogel (CNFCA) was investigated in simulated atmosphere. The physicochemical property of the composite aerogel was characterized, which had a large specific surface area (153.67 m2/g), a rough surface and an ultra-thin and porous structure. The composite aerogel showed excellent adsorption capacity for the formaldehyde, its theoretical maximum adsorption capacity was as high as 83.89 mg/g, and the adsorption process was more in accordance with the pseudo-second-order kinetics. The chromogenic reaction between the 4-amino-3-benzo-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazolium (AHMT) and CNFCA was found that the color of the composite aerogel was depended on the free formaldehyde concentration. Based on this phenomenon, a colorimetric card was proposed and built to detection the formaldehyde in the atmosphere. Moreover, the adsorption mechanism research was found that the CNFCA with a multilayer structure belonged to physicochemical complex adsorption.

Analysis of Indoor Radon Concentration Levels and Influencing Factors in Kunshan

Radon is a natural radioactive gas widely existing, in order to study the indoor radon level and influencing factors in Kunshan City, the indoor radon concentration of three buildings was analyzed. It was found that all of them met the indoor radon concentration limit specified in the national standard, and the indoor radon concentration was mainly related to soil radon concentration, indoor ventilation and climate. Indoor radon can be controlled from the following points: (1) While building a new building, test the radon concentration in the soil and try to avoid areas with high concentrations. (2) Pay attention to daily window ventilation, especially in cold weather and poor air circulation in winter. (3) Find and prevent indoor radon sources, building materials will also release a certain amount of radon, and interior decoration materials must be selected to meet national standards.

Feather Analysis and Restoration Techniques Trends for Conservation of the Traditional Korean Featherwork

This paper highlights scientific analyses and treatments of cultural heritage made of feathers in Korea. While research on the conservation and treatment of featherwork has been systematically conducted in North and South Americas, it has not attracted much attention in Korea because featherwork has been rare. In many cases, if any, feathers have been used as a decorative material in composite works. In this study, we propose a conservation treatment plan for domestic featherwork based on foreign case studies of similar works. Basic characteristics such as structure, material characteristics, and colour are presented in order to establish a solid foundation of knowledge about feathers and to use this foundation for the basis of treatments. Analyses using ultraviolet rays and amino acid composition of feather will be explored to investigate the condition of feathers. XRF analyses are also an important tool to determine the presence of heavy metal pesticides on feathers. Upon determining the stability of feathers and presence of pesticides, treatments such as surface cleaning, stabilization, restoration, and packaging/storage methods will be presented using examples of specific materials and tools. It is hoped that the groundwork for conservation of featherwork and feathers in composite works in Korea will be launched through this paper.

ANALYSIS OF IDENTIFICATION FEATURES OF MODERN DECORATIVE TEXTILE MATERIALS FOR CUSTOMS PURPOSES

the article analyses the identification features of modern decorative textile materials used for the manufacture of curtains for declaration for customs purposes by participants of foreign economic activity. Since a large number of such materials are purchased by import in Russia, the distinctive features of the ma- terials “blackout”, “dimout”, “chenille” are shown to describe the goods and assign the correct HS code of the EAEU.

Architectural Characterization of Hongjialou Catholic Church in Jinan

This paper focuses on the Hongjialou Catholic Church in Jinan, China. Hongjialou Catholic Church was designed by Italian Brother Poncieri. It is one of the larger Catholic churches in Jinan. It occupies an important position in modern Chinese religious architecture. This paper will use the field research method, literature analysis method, comparative analysis method, and chart enumeration method to analyze the Hongjialou Catholic Church in terms of its construction background, plan layout, facade style, decorative decoration and building materials, structure, etc. in terms of culture, art, and other aspects. To further demonstrate the rules of decorative construction of typical Western Gothic church buildings, compare Hongjialou Catholic Church with Western churches, and study the influence of localization on the facade and interior space decoration and ornamentation of Western churches. And through the comparison with other Chinese modern Catholic churches, it is concluded that the localization influence of Hongjialou Catholic Church is not significant, which will help the subsequent in-depth study of Hongjialou Catholic Church in terms of artistic achievement and historical and cultural value.

Surfactants-styrene butadiene latex synergistic enhancement of bamboo scraps/magnesium oxychloride light composite interface compatibility

Combining bamboo processing residues with lightweight magnesium oxychlorides can produce new composite building materials that increase the utilization rate of bamboo and also improve the performance of lightweight magnesium oxychlorides. However, the incompatible interface between the two materials leads to the poor performance of the resulting composites, which limits their application in construction engineering. In this paper, a synergistic effect between surfactants and styrene-butadiene latex was used to enhance the interfacial compatibility between bamboo scraps and lightweight magnesium oxychlorides. The structure formed between the two acted as a “bridge” that enhanced the cross-linking between bamboo scraps and lightweight magnesium oxychloride, thus forming a more stable bamboo fiber-lightweight magnesium oxychloride network. The lightweight composite material obtained in this paper showed a maximum compressive stress of 6.5 MPa and a softening coefficient of 0.75.It shows great development potential in the application of light weight, high strength and water resistance building decoration materials.

A flame-retardant and conductive fabric-based triboelectric nanogenerator: Application in fire alarm and emergency evacuation

The fabrics commonly used in architectural decorative materials pose significant fire hazards due to their flammability and rapid fire spread. Moreover, the traditional fire-alarm systems may fail to function properly in complex fire environments owing to power supply disruptions. In this study, we developed a low-cost and eco-friendly flame-retardant conductive fabric-based triboelectric nanogenerator (FCF-TENG) by integrating flame-retardant conductive nylon fabric and polytetrafluoroethylene soaked cotton fabric. This nanogenerator exhibits excellent flame-retardant properties and remarkable energy-harvesting capabilities. The nylon fabric, treated with layer-by-layer self-assembly method, possesses outstanding self-extinguishing capability and melt-dripping resistance. Additionally, the electrical performance of FCF-TENG significantly improves, with a 10-fold boost in conductivity, and the open-circuit voltage increases by 84% to 92 V. Besides, by incorporating the rectifier circuit, the FCF-TENG is capable of completely charging a 1 μF capacitor within 30 s. Furthermore, the FCF-TENG was successfully applied as a self-powered sensor in the fire-alarm system and served as a safety exit indicator for evacuees and fire rescue. This work presents an effective and innovative application of multifunctional smart textiles for energy harvesting and self-powered sensing.

The evaluation of hand-crafted and learned-based features in Terrestrial Laser Scanning-Structure-from-Motion (TLS-SfM) indoor point cloud registration: the case study of cultural heritage objects and public interiors

Modern technologies are commonly used to inventory different architectural or industrial objects (especially cultural heritage objects and sites) to generate architectural documentation or 3D models. The Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) method is one of the standard technologies researchers investigate for accurate data acquisition and processing required for architectural documentation. The processing of TLS data to generate high-resolution architectural documentation is a multi-stage process that begins with point cloud registration. In this step, it is a common practice to identify corresponding points manually, semi-manually or automatically. There are several challenges for the TLS point cloud processing in the data registration process: correct spatial distribution, marking of control points, automation, and robustness analysis. This is particularly important when large, complex heritage sites are investigated, where it is impossible to distribute marked control points. On the other hand, when orientating multi-temporal data, there is also the problem of corresponding reference points. For this reason, it is necessary to use automatic tie-point detection methods. Therefore, this article aims to evaluate the quality and completeness of the TLS registration process using 2D raster data in the form of spherical images and Affine Hand-crafted and Learned-based detectors in the multi-stage TLS point cloud registration as test data; point clouds were used for the historic 17th-century cellars of the Royal Castle in Warsaw without decorative structures, two baroque rooms in the King John III Palace Museum in Wilanów with decorative elements, ornaments and materials on the walls and flat frescoes, and two modern test fields, narrow office, and empty shopping mall. The extended Structure-from-Motion was used to determine the tie points for the complete TLS registration and reliability analysis. The evaluation of detectors demonstrates that for the test sites exhibiting rich textures and numerous ornaments, a combination of AFAST, ASURF, ASIFT, SuperGlue and LoFTR can be effectively employed. For the point cloud registration of less textured buildings, it is advisable to use AFAST/ASIFT. The robust method for point cloud registration exhibits comparable outcomes to the conventional target-based and Iterative Closest Points methods.

Sustainable lignocellulose aerogel for air purifier with thermal insulation, flame retardancy, mechanical strength, and its life cycle assessment

High-performance biomass materials with good thermal insulation, flame retardrancy, and mechanical properties are urgently required for thermal management. Herein, a novel lignocellulose aerogel treated using a recyclable deep eutectic solvent (DES) was physically mixed with tourmaline particles (TPs) to enhance its structural stability, flame retardancy, and mechanical properties. The optimized TPs-modified lignocellulose aerogel (TLA-4) had good comprehensive performances due to the synergistic effect of ammonium sulfate and TPs. Compared with TPs-free lignocellulose aerogel (LA), the total heat release (THR) and heat release rate (HRR) of TLA-4 were reduced by 62.0 % and 66.3 %, respectively, and the limiting oxygen index (LOI) of TLA-4 was drastically enhanced by 74.1 %. TLA-4 also exhibited a low thermal conductivity of 29.67 mW/mK, showing favorable thermal insulation performance. When compressed to 5 %, the mechanical strength of TLA-4 increased by 8.3 times. Meanwhile, the presence of TPs and abundant pores in the aerogel contributed to the release of negative oxygen ions (NOIs), aiding air purification. A life cycle assessment (LCA) indicated that this composite had a minimal environmental impact (EI) in 17 categories compared to other similar aerogels. The proposed strategy for preparing an environment-friendly lignocellulose aerogel offers significant potential for applications in home decoration and building materials.

Co-occurrence of organophosphate diesters and organophosphate triesters in daily household products: Potential emission and possible human health risk

Eight paired organophosphate diesters (Di-OPs) and organophosphate triesters (Tri-OPs) were investigated in wipes from analytical instruments and 47 material samples related to household products, including textiles, electrical/electronic devices, building/ decoration materials and children’s products. The total concentrations of Di-OPs ranged in 3577–95551 ng/m2 in the wipes and limit of detection–23002 ng/g in the materials. The Tri-OPs concentrations varied significantly in the ranges of 107218–1756892 ng/m2 and 2.13–503149 ng/g, respectively. Four industrial Di-OPs were detected in > 65% of the studied samples suggesting their direct application in the studied materials. Furthermore, we demonstrated for the first time that four non-industrial Di-OPs, e.g., bis(2-chloroethyl) phosphate, bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate, bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate, and bis(butoxyethyl) phosphate, identified as degradation products of their respective Tri-OPs were also detected in these studied samples, which might act as important emission sources of Di-OPs in indoor environments. We estimated the burden of Di-OPs and Tri-OPs in a typical residential house and instrumental room, which both exhibited important contributions from furniture, building and decoration materials, and electrical/electronic devices. Limit health risk was posed to local people via air inhalation.

Place Attachment of Shoppers: A Study of Palms Mall, Ibadan, Nigeria

The shopping mall has emerged as an important component of many cities. While the rapid development of malls and the increasing patronage show their viability and acceptance by the populace, respectively, there is a dearth of studies that examine the impact of its physical and behavioural attributes on attachment. This study examines the effect of physical characteristics, activities, and socioeconomic characteristics on place attachment to the first standalone mall in Ibadan, Nigeria. From a sampling frame of 7, 115 shoppers, quantitative data was obtained from 350 respondents using systematic sampling on April 29, 2017, through a structured questionnaire. The data was analysed using mean, factor analysis, cross-tabulation, correlation, and categorical regression. The findings show that the most prevalent activities are meeting others (α = 0.77); leisure (α = 0.75); and, parties and hanging out (α = 0.70). The important physical attributes are circulation, wayfinding, and aesthetics (α = 0.87); access to mechanical conveyors, mall decoration, and quality materials (α = 0.80); and, ambience (α =0.79). However, the regression results show that the most important factors of attachment are access to mechanical conveyors, mall decoration, and quality materials (β = 0.334); leisure (β = 0.279); purchasing activities (β = 0.236); and, meeting others (β = 0.165). Hence, these factors should be considered in creating new malls in the city. In the context of urbanism, this is key to the social and economic revitalization of cities.

Retracted: Preparation of Porous Ceramic Building Decoration Materials by Foaming Method and Research on Nanomechanical Properties

Retracted: Preparation of Porous Ceramic Building Decoration Materials by Foaming Method and Research on Nanomechanical Properties