GRAZIANI, LORENZO1; QUAGLIARINI, ENRICO2; D’ORAZIO, MARCO3

1) Dr. Graziani Lorenzo, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Department of Construction, Civil Engineering and Architecture (DICEA), l.graziani@univpm.it

2) Prof. Quagliarini Enrico, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Department of Construction, Civil Engineering and Architecture (DICEA), e.quagliarini@univpm.it

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is one of the most promising materials for self-cleaning applications. The use of this nanotechnology is actually rising, but studies on building construction are very limited, especially in the field of clay brick substrata. Photocatalytic property of this nano-coating allow the self-cleaning action of substrata in which TiO2 was applied. Growth of microorganisms is one of the most diffuse degradation processes of building envelope in modern architecture and in cultural heritage. The durability of the entire façade can be seriously reduced by algal biofouling and the maintenance costs rise consequently. Thus, in this study the application of TiO2 for algal growth prevention was studied on fired clay façades. Evaluation of TiO2 efficiency toward biofouling on fired clay was carried out in both macroscopic and microscopic scale by sprinkling specimens with algal broth culture in a glass climatic chamber and then observing them with CLSM microscope. Results show that TiO2 nano-coating is very efficient to prevent the adhesion of microorganisms on substrata, and it showed very high self-cleaning ability.

Keywords: titanium dioxide, algal growth, durability, clay brick, façades.