VASCONCELOS, G.1, CARNEIRO, J.2, FERNANDES, F. 3, JESUS, C. 4, PALHA, C.5

1 Assistant Professor, ISISE, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, PORTUGAL, E-mail: graca@civil.uminho.pt

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, University of Minho, Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, PORTUGAL, E-mail: carneiro@fisica.uminho.pt

3 Researcher, Department of Physics, University of Minho, Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, PORTUGAL, E-mail: f.daniela.06@gmail.com

4 Civil Engineer, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, PORTUGAL, E-mail: cjesus@civil.uminho.pt

5 Civil Engineer, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, PORTUGAL, E-mail: cpalha@civil.uminho.pt

 

Recent developments in the area of nanomaterials science and nanotechnology are changing the field of construction and building industry. The construction industry has been increasingly identified as an important market for the use of nanomaterial´s since this can make buildings cleaner (minimizing the pollution effects and also reducing the building facades maintenance costs), resistant and energy efficient (thermal energy storage).

In order to contribute for the development of this area, this work aims the production of rendering plastering mortars with multifunctional properties such as photocatalytic capacity and improving thermal capabilities. Standard plastering mortars were modified by spraying titanium dioxide (TiO2) from a water-based TiO2 nanoparticles solution. Two mortar compositions, which are representative of rendering mortars, namely composition, 1:1:6 and 1:2:9 (cement:lime:sand) in volume, were considered. Additionally, two distinct water/binder ratios were considered to induce distinct porosities and thus to evaluate the differences on the mechanical and physical properties of the mortars after the addition of the TiO2 nanoparticles.

 

Keywords: rendering mortar, TiO2 nanoparticles, physical and mechanical properties, thermal efficiency