Improving the Impact of Commercial Paint on Indoor Air Quality by Using Highly Porous Fillers

Abstract

In the current paper, the effect on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) of two commercial acrylic-based paints were compared: one (Paint A) for indoor applications, the other (Paint B) for indoor/outdoor applications. Both were applied on an inert and on a real mortar substrate. The possibility of Paint B to passively improve IAQ was also investigated when adding highly porous adsorbent fillers, both as addition or as total replacement of a conventional siliceous one. The obtained results show that all paints have high capacity to inhibit biological growth. Paint A is more breathable and it has a higher moisture buffering capacity. Paint B negatively modifies the beneficial properties of the mortar substrate for IAQ. However, the use of unconventional fillers, especially as addition to the formulation, allows the recovery of the same properties of the substrate or even the enhancement of about 20% of the ability to adsorb volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under the current test conditions.

Evaluating the Self-Sensing Ability of Cement Mortars Manufactured with Graphene Nanoplatelets, Virgin or Recycled Carbon Fibers through Piezoresistivity Tests

“…Over the last few decades, the development of novel multifunctional materials for both structural and non-structural applications has been particularly interesting. In particular, recent studies report the use of highly porous aggregates [1][2][3] or nano-photocatalytic materials [4][5][6] for indoor air quality improvement, smart compounds containing phase change materials [7,8] for enhancing the thermo-energy efficiency and conductive additions for developing self-sensing materials [9][10][11].…”

Innovative hydraulic lime-based finishes with unconventional aggregates and TiO2 for the improvement of indoor air quality

“…Adsorption process is guaranteed on the mortar by highly porous [4] unconventional aggregates such as zeolite, silica gel and activated carbon.…”

“…The study of molds growth on the tested paints was performed according to UNI EN 15457:2014 using Aspergillus niger, fungi able to cause health problems including allergies and asthma especially during prolonged indoor exposure. The methodology and the quantification of the inoculum was performed as described in a previous work [4]. In the current experimentation, the main difference is represented by the sterilization methodology of the sample.…”

“…People are spending up to 90% of their time indoor, where concentration of airborne pollutants, due to insulating necessity, could be higher than outdoor [1,2]. Occupants are potentially exposed to airborne pollutants, nonadequate levels of Relative Humidity (RH) [3] and microorganisms that can be serious health hazards to occupants because of the production of airborne particles such as spores, allergens, toxins and other metabolites [4].…”

Bricks and Concrete Wastes as Coarse and Fine Aggregates in Sustainable Mortars

“…A good water vapour permeability is positive for mortars, since both the proper drying of the internal water and the elimination of water vapour that occurs within buildings can be ensured [34,35]. Water vapour permeability measurements were carried out on three cylindrical specimens (a diameter of 14 cm and height of 3 cm) after 28 days of curing (T � 20°C and RH � 90 ± 5% for the first week and then at RH � 50 ± 5%).…”