Development and evaluation of halloysite nanotube-based carrier for biocide activity in construction materials protection

In this study, it was developed a natural halloysite nanotube-based carrier with biocide activity for construction materials protection. The obtained active system has been characterized and tested as co-formulating agent in mortars, in order to evaluate its stability and its effect on mortar properties, in terms of antimicrobial activity, water entrance resistance and aesthetic appearance. The mortar containing the biocide-loaded nanotubes showed prolonged resistance to microbiological growth, after natural contamination by exposure to outdoor conditions, and reduced water capillary absorption. This demonstrated the potential of the formulated active nanocarrier to reduce the bioreceptivity of the mortar substrate over a period of almost two years and to improve its durability. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.