Multifunctional Lightweight Mortars for Indoor Applications to Improve Comfort and Health of Occupants: Thermal Properties and Photocatalytic Efficiency

Abstract

A new generation of smart building materials, able to passively improve the indoor environment and the comfort of occupants owing to their interaction with the surrounding environment, can be addressed. This paper investigates the use of three highly porous aggregates to manufacture hydraulic lime-based multifunctional mortars to be used as indoor finishes. The same water/binder ratio was used for each mortar mix, and conventional calcareous sand was totally replaced by volume with zeolite, silica gel, and activated carbon. Nanosized titanium dioxide (TiO 2) was added to award a photocatalytic behavior under UV radiation to the mortars. Results show that, as expected, when highly porous aggregates are used, mortars absorb more water by capillary suction. However, even though the mortars manufactured with lightweight aggregates have a lower density, the mechanical behavior of zeolite and activated carbon mortars is comparable or even higher than that of sand mortars, thanks to an optimum interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between the binder paste and the aggregate. The photocatalytic activity, in terms of photocatalytic NO x degradation efficiency and selectivity of unwanted produced NO 2 , results to be optimal when silica gel-based mortar is tested. Additionally, the thermal-insulation properties are enhanced up to 40% by using all the unconventional aggregates.

Gasification Char and Used Foundry Sand as Alternative Fillers to Graphene Nanoplatelets for Electrically Conductive Mortars with and without Virgin/Recycled Carbon Fibres

“…This migration promotes hydration reactions and results in a denser and less porous ITZ. Probably, the pore structure of GCH, which is similar to that of biochar, generates the same effect [34]. On the contrary, UFS particles do not have a porous surface, therefore their ITZ with cement paste, even if still quite good, is weaker than that of GCH.…”

Sustainable Alkali-Activated Mortars for the Immobilization of Heavy Metals from Copper Mine Tailings

“…The XRD operation followed our previously reported method, with modifications. 34 2.6. Morphological Observations and Surface Elemental Mapping.…”

Zeolite Lightweight Repair Renders: Effect of Binder Type on Properties and Salt Crystallization Resistance

“…Renders and plasters play multiple roles in the proper functioning of structures. Aside from their design and structural protection value, they can also provide additional thermal, acoustic, and air quality improvement [10]. Because of their role in multiple aspects of building performance, new wall coverings should always be properly realized, and old ones should be maintained in good condition, ensuring their function, and repaired in the case of damage.…”

“…Such structures are necessary to accommodate salt crystallization products and to avoid the deterioration of render caused by them and by freeze-thaw cycles. Due this fact, the use of, e.g., crushed lava [34] pumice [35], activated carbon [10], silica gel [10], ceramic waste [36,37], and perlite [30] in renovating renders has been suggested. These renders have been recognized as suitable due to their ability to accumulate considerable amounts of salts within their porous system [38].…”

“…According to recent studies, zeolite has shown multiple advantages when used in rendering and repair mortars. Zeolites have been used in mortars either as a partial substituent for cementitious materials [39,40] or lime [32,41], as a mineral pozzolanic admixture [42] due to its pozzolanic nature, and as an aggregate [10,18,35,38].…”