Multifunctional TiO2 coatings for Cultural Heritage

Environmental pollution arising from industrial implants and urban factors is constantly increasing, causing aesthetical and durability concerns to urban structures exposed to the atmosphere. Nanometric titanium dioxide has become a promising photocatalytic material owing to its ability to catalyze the complete degradation of many organic contaminants and environmental toxins. This work deals with the preparation system that could take advantage of functionalized building materials in order to improve the quality of urban surfaces, with particular regard to Cultural Heritage. TiO2-containing photoactive materials represent an appealing way to create self-cleaning surfaces, thus limiting maintenance costs, and to promote the degradation of polluting agents. Titanium dioxide dispersed in polymeric matrices can represent a coating technology with hydrophobic, consolidating and biocidal properties, suitable for the restoration of building stone materials belonging to our Cultural Heritage. Mixtures were tested on marble and limestone substrates. Capillary water absorption, simulated solar aging, colorimetric and contact angle measurements have been performed to evaluate their properties. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.