Article
Construction & Building Technology
Behzad Zahabizadeh, Iran Rocha Segundo, Joao Pereira, Elisabete Freitas, Aires Camoes, Carlos J. Tavares, Vasco Teixeira, Vitor M. C. F. Cunha, Manuel F. M. Costa, Joaquim O. Carneiro
Summary: The study evaluated the photocatalytic activity of 3D-printed cementitious mortar specimens functionalized with TiO2 nanoparticles, showing that longer curing ages and increased coating rates can enhance photocatalytic efficiency. All specimens exhibited increased efficiency after longer durations of light exposure.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Hao Wang, Xin Liu, Shaojie Wang, Shuang Zhou, Tianchan Zang, Li Dai, Shiyun Ai
Summary: The hydrophobic kenaf straws core fabricated by a sol-gel method successfully improved the mechanical properties of biomass-based cement mortar, reducing water consumption and enhancing strength development, showing potential for application in construction material design.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Anderson A. G. Santiago, Elida M. Macedo, Fernanda K. F. Oliveira, Ricardo L. Tranquilin, Marcio D. Teodoro, Elson Longo, Fabiana Motta, Mauricio R. D. Bomio
Summary: CaMoO4-based g-C3N4 composites synthesized via sonochemistry exhibit excellent photocatalytic activity under UV light, particularly in the discolouration of methylene blue. Structural analysis confirms the presence of g-C3N4 and showcases increased particle interfaces through FEG-SEM imaging. Additionally, the increased dosage of g-C3N4 onto the composite significantly enhances the photocatalytic efficiency.
MATERIALS RESEARCH BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Chen Sun, Lakshmanan Karuppasamy, Lakshmanan Gurusamy, Hsin-Ju Yang, Cheng-Hua Liu, Jun Dong, Jerry J. Wu
Summary: In this study, new CdS/COF heterostructured nanocomposites were synthesized using a facile sonochemical irradiation method and were found to have enhanced photocatalytic degradation performance towards BPA with the addition of COF. Among the prepared materials, 0.5 wt% CdS/COF exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity, with h(+) and center dot O-2(-) identified as the main active radicals in the photocatalytic reaction for BPA degradation. Additionally, 0.5 wt% CdS/COF showed photocatalytic stability and reusability in degrading BPA.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yiming Zhou, Mohamed Elchalakani, Peng Du, Chuanzhi Sun, Zuhua Zhang, Hao Wang
Summary: The paper presents a novel method of using photocatalytic self-healing mortar to repair concrete cracks. By utilizing photocatalytic capsules, the cracks can be healed, overcoming the limitation of traditional methods that cannot repair slowly developing cracks. Experimental results demonstrate that the substances released from the photocatalytic capsules can heal 2-millimetre wide mortar cracks with high efficiency.
CEMENT & CONCRETE COMPOSITES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Junhe Shi, Liju Xu, Dong Qiu
Summary: This study reports an innovative strategy to achieve longer antifogging duration by enhancing the water absorption capacity of the coating. The combination of strong interfacial adhesion and hydrophilic/hydrophobic heteronetwork structure is key to this approach, which avoids interfacial failure and swelling-induced wrinkles under typical fogging conditions. Moreover, the coating also has potential as underwater glues.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Jerome Carette, Brice Delsaute, Nenad Milenkovic, Jean-Paul Lecomte, Marie-Paule Delplancke, Stephanie Staquet
Summary: This study investigates the influence of different incorporation modes on cement hydration and early age properties, finding that emulsion of silane and silicone resin impacts the early age mechanical behavior of cement-based systems, while microencapsulation of silicone resin prevents these effects from occurring.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sebastian A. A. Mayr, Nikolaus Schwaiger, Hedda K. K. Weber, Janez Kovac, Georg M. M. Guebitz, Gibson S. S. Nyanhongo
Summary: Enzymatic polymerization of lignin using laccase from a thermophilic fungus successfully produced water-insoluble polymers by coupling a hydrophobicity enhancing fluorophenol molecule onto lignosulfonate. The addition of 2% fluorophenol significantly increased the hydrophobicity of the polymer while reducing its swelling capacity.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Margherita Zucchelli, Giulia Mazzon, Laura Bertolacci, Riccardo Carzino, Elisabetta Zendri, Athanassia Athanassiou
Summary: This study evaluated the efficiency of an ecofriendly zein solution in DMSO as a protective material for stone, showing that it can create a hydrophobic coating with micro-scale roughness. Accelerated aging tests demonstrated good resistance to aging in terms of hydrophobicity and color variations, making it a valuable alternative to synthetic treatments for stone protection.
PROGRESS IN ORGANIC COATINGS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Laetitia Marrot, Mariem Zouari, Matthew Schwarzkopf, David Brian DeVallance
Summary: With the increasing interest in wood as a construction material, sustainable coatings containing biocarbon were developed to protect the wood from discoloration and loss of mechanical properties. The addition of biocarbon enhanced color stability and hydrophobicity of the coatings, but the increase in biocarbon content did not further improve water repellence. However, the introduction of 20% biocarbon best protected the decrease in water repellence caused by weathering.
PROGRESS IN ORGANIC COATINGS
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Qingnan Song, Qing Wang, Zhe Li, Shuangshuang Xu, Yayun Zhao, Rui Zhang
Summary: A new method of improving the corrosion resistance of calcium formate mortar has been proposed in this study, and its effectiveness has been demonstrated through experiments. The fabricated mortar shows better mechanical properties and corrosion resistance compared to the reference mortar. This research is of great importance for the future repair work of marine structural engineering.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Acoustics
A. Rosales, L. Ortiz-Frade, Iliana E. Medina-Ramirez, Luis A. Godinez, K. Esquivel
Summary: The use of sol-gel method coupled to sonochemistry for synthesizing SiO2@TiO2 composite resulted in changes in morphology and surface properties. Higher ultrasonic energy led to the formation of amorphous composite materials and affected the surface characteristics, with significant influence on the hydrolysis process.
ULTRASONICS SONOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ayman M. Atta, Mohamed H. El-Newehy, Meera Moydeen Abdulhameed, Mohamed H. Wahby, Ahmed Hashem
Summary: The enhancement of epoxy materials with nanomaterials for coating steel shows improved adhesion properties, superhyrophobicity, and durability in aggressive seawater environment.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Hui Rong, Xiaojie Chen, Yang Feng, Ying Zhang, Jinrui Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the evolution of biofilms adhered to mortar surfaces with different protective coatings and their impact on mortar properties. Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were used as experimental strains, and epoxy resin and polyurethane were used as protective coatings. The results showed that protective coatings effectively hindered the adhesion of biofilms and delayed their rapid growth period. Polyurethane coating effectively prevented the entrance of corrosive media, delayed the corrosion process of mortar in seawater, and provided protection for the mortar.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yuyang Pang, Qun Tang, Lin Yang, Qiang Wang, Haofei Li, Weiqian Lv, Runxin Wang
Summary: The present study introduces a novel hydrophobic additive called modified mica powder (MMAP) to enhance the water and corrosion resistances of cement mortar. The experiments showed that the capillary water absorption of MMAP modified cement mortars was reduced by 23.5%-64.4% compared to unmodified ones. Moreover, MMAP had no adverse effect on the mechanical properties of cement mortar, which was superior to the conventional MAP addition.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Civil
William G. Valencia-Saavedra, Ana Maria Aguirre-Guerrero, Ruby Mejia de Gutierrez
Summary: This study investigates the carbonation behavior and corrosion behavior of alkali-activated fly ash-based (AFA) concrete. The research finds that AFA concrete is more susceptible to carbonation compared to ordinary concrete, and the corrosion behavior of reinforcing steel is also different.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jose Manuel Moreno-Maroto, Pedro Delgado-Plana, Rafael Cabezas-Rodriguez, Ruby Mejia de Gutierrez, Dolores Eliche-Quesada, Luis Perez-Villarejo, Rosendo Jesus Galan-Arboledas, Salvador Bueno
Summary: The study investigated the use of construction and demolition wastes with low Al2O3 content (4-6%) and amorphous phase (16-27%) in geopolymerization. Results showed lower reactivity and compressive strength in samples rich in carbonate aggregate, while better results were achieved in siliceous waste geopolymerization.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erick Hernandez-Rengifo, Monica A. Villaquiran-Caicedo, Ruby Mejia de Gutierrez
Summary: This study investigated the use of discarded industrial abrasives for the manufacture of geopolymer-matrix composites. The results showed that the microstructure of the geopolymer paste is reorganized after exposure to high temperatures, leading to increased compressive strength. However, the mechanical strength of the composites decreased after exposure to high temperatures, with the presence of cracking and porosity.
JOURNAL OF MATERIAL CYCLES AND WASTE MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ashley Bonilla, Monica A. Villaquiran-Caicedo, Ruby Mejia de Gutierrez
Summary: Novel hybrid-cement materials were prepared by mechanically conditioning ceramic tile wastes with Portland cement and alkaline activators. The addition of nanoparticles resulted in enhanced photocatalytic and bactericidal properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
A. Rosales, V Gutierrez, Janet Ocampo-Hernandez, Martha L. Jimenez-Gonzalez, Iliana E. Medina-Ramirez, L. Ortiz-Frade, K. Esquivel
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different hydrophobic agents and pH modification on the SiO2-TiO2 composite. The results showed that the surface morphology and roughness of the coating were influenced by the hydrophobic agents. Changes in vibrational properties and self-cleaning properties were observed due to the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles. The photocatalytic activity was improved in specific coatings with the hydrophobic agent and nanoparticles. The pH also had an impact on the performance of the coatings.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Rafael Robayo-Salazar, Ruby Mejia de Gutierrez, Monica A. Villaquiran-Caicedo, Silvio Delvasto Arjona
Summary: This review article discusses the advantages and opportunities of additive manufacturing in the construction sector, focusing on the design methodology and required properties of cementitious material mixes suitable for 3D printing. It examines traditional materials based on Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and non-conventional ones such as alkali-activated materials (geopolymers). While additive manufacturing has found interesting projects in the United States, Europe, and Asia, its adoption is still in the experimental phase in Latin America. However, promising developments and research in countries like Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, and Peru suggest that 3D printing will become an industrial reality in the near future. This paper presents the main challenges and opportunities in implementing additive manufacturing.
AUTOMATION IN CONSTRUCTION
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Laura M. Henao Rios, Andry F. Hoyos Trivino, Monica A. Villaquiran-Caicedo, Ruby Mejia de Gutierrez
Summary: The environmental impact of CDW, which accounts for nearly half of the solid wastes sent to landfills, is significant. Glass wastes, although 100% recyclable, have a low recycling rate in the United States compared to Europe. This research evaluates the use of waste glass in geopolymers and finds that the strength of the resulting materials depends on the type of activator and the percentage of glass used.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yasser H. Ochoa-Munoz, Ruby Mejia de Gutierrez, Jorge E. Rodriguez-Paez
Summary: Metal oxide (MOx) gas sensors have attracted considerable attention for their potential in detecting toxic gases and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). They are expected to play a key role in various fields such as home and public security, environmental monitoring, chemical quality control, and medicine. In particular, the detection of acetone vapors using MOx-type sensors shows promise for noninvasive medical diagnosis, such as in diabetic patients.
Article
Plant Sciences
Noelia Ferrusquia-Jimenez, Beatriz Gonzalez-Arias, Alicia Rosales, Karen Esquivel, Eleazar M. Escamilla-Silva, Adrian E. Ortega-Torres, Ramon G. Guevara-Gonzalez
Summary: The co-application of SiO2-NPs and B.c-A improves chili pepper growth by enhancing seed germination, plant height, leaf number, fruit number and yield. Additionally, it increases CAT and PAL activities in chili pepper plants, indicating the induction of plant immunity by the bacteria-NP treatment.
Article
Plant Sciences
Luis Paramo, Ana Angelica Feregrino-Perez, Marina Vega-Gonzalez, Luis Escobar-Alarcon, Karen Esquivel
Summary: The present study investigated the stress induction of Medicago sativa L. crops irrigated with TiO2 and TiO2 doped with Ag, Fe, and Cu ions. The nanomaterial treatments caused a significant reduction in stem length, leaf size, and chlorophyll index, and an increase in total phenol content and DPPH inhibition percentage. However, the observed effects did not show a clear relationship between the type of nanomaterial, synthesis method, or concentration. The addition of microwaves in the synthesis method resulted in a higher content of phenols and inhibition percentage compared to traditional sol-gel synthesis.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Rafael Robayo-Salazar, Fabio Martinez, Armando Vargas, Ruby Mejia de Gutierrez
Summary: This article evaluates the synthesis, characterization, and 3D printing of hybrid cements using high contents of powders from concrete waste, ceramic waste, and red clay brick waste. The addition of ordinary Portland cement and a chemical activator improved the properties of the mixes. The optimized mixes allowed successful 3D printing of elements with good quality and sufficient strength.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Aldo Cordoba, Eric Mauricio Rivera-Munoz, Rodrigo Velazquez-Castillo, Karen Esquivel
Summary: The investigation focused on the synthesis of nanocomposite polymers reinforced with TiO2 and SiO2 nanoparticles at different concentrations. The interaction between the nanoparticles and the polymer matrix resulted in improved mechanical properties with low weight concentrations. The crystalline and morphological properties of the nanoparticles were characterized, and the molecular structure of the coatings was analyzed. The crosslinking efficiency, hydrophobicity, and adhesion of the nanocomposites were evaluated, and mechanical tests showed significant increases in hardness, elastic modulus, and tensile strength with increasing nanoparticle concentration while maintaining ductility.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
William Valencia-Saavedra, Rafael A. Robayo-Salazar, Ruby Mejia de Gutierrez
Summary: This study demonstrates the possibility of producing hybrid cementitious materials based on fly ash and construction and demolition wastes using alkaline activation technology. The mechanical properties and applicability of the hybrid cements were evaluated.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Rafael Robayo-Salazar, Yurleny Munoz, Karen Erazo, Ruby Mejia de Gutierrez
Summary: This study analyzes the potential application of slurry infiltrated fiber concrete (SIFCON) in constructing structures resistant to both fire and ballistic impacts. The results indicate that SIFCON-Ce exhibits greater thermal stability and fire resistance compared to SIFCON-OPC. Additionally, the inclusion of steel fibers enhances the material's ability to resist impacts.