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SUMMARY The effect of TiO2 and/or clay nanoparticles on water vapour permeability and the reaction to fire performance of coated and impregnated spruce wood were studied. Water vapour permeability properties were used to assess the moisture transfer properties and durability of the specimens using the cup test. The reaction to the early stage fire development properties of the specimens was analysed using a small scale cone calorimeter test. Comparisons between the different treated and untreated specimens on the moisture and reaction to fire performances were performed. The results revealed poor reaction to fire and water vapour resistance of specimens treated with TiO2 and/or clay nanoparticles containing treatments. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the characteristics of rigid plastic foam building insulation (RPFBI), one of several types of insulation available for new and retrofit applications. Most RPFBI currently in service incorporates a low thermal conductivity and low-flammability blowing agent within the cells of the foam matrix to enhance thermal and fire performance. Blowing agents diffuse out of the foam matrix with time, and environmental gases diffuse in, with concomitant changes in performance. To address the thermal performance issue, international standards organizations have developed standards that define thermal performance averaged over a specific time frame or assumed lifetime. These standards have several limitations that may result in inaccurate estimates of long-term performance, as well as confusion among stakeholders. None of the standards address possible changes in fire performance through time. This paper presents a review of the standards and literature regarding thermal and fire performance of RPFBI, and a call for harmonization and consistency across standards addressing thermal performance, fire behavior, durability, and service life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work summarizes the output of durability, reaction to fire properties, and environmental impact of wooden claddings subjected to treatments modified with TiO2and clay nanoparticles. The objective was to investigate the effects of 1 wt% of TiO2and clay nanoparticles in existing water-based and stain coatings and preservatives regarding the properties mentioned above. Water vapor resistance properties were used to assess the moisture transfer properties of the specimens by using the cup test. The reactions to fire properties of the specimens were analyzed using small-scale cone calorimeter test. Accelerated aging was used to study the weathering properties of specimens, where the performance of the specimens with aging was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The effect of increasing the percentage of nanoparticles from 1 wt% to 3 wt% on the weathering properties of the specimens was further analyzed. Moreover, comparison between the overall environmental impact between unmodified water-based paint and water-based paint modified with 1 wt% of TiO2nanoparticles was performed using available environmental data and weathering test results as analyzed by FTIR. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This work was an investigation of the effect of nanoparticles on the durability of wood specimens exposed to artificial weathering. TiO2 and clay nanoparticles were mixed with preservative (Wolmanit CX-8) for improving the durability of Norway spruce (Picea abies). Impregnated and untreated specimens were subjected to Atlas Solar Simulator accelerated ageing test chamber for solar radiation and water spray exposure. The effectiveness of the treatment against colour and chemical changes was investigated using CIEL*a*b* colour measurements system and Fourier transform infrared analysis. The present study showed that the wood specimens that had been treated with preservatives containing nanoparticles were slightly more stable against artificial ageing than both untreated specimens and specimens treated with preservative alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building materials and their durability and aging are essential to the performance of buildings and their building physical aspects over time. Accelerated climate aging investigations are carried out in order to study the durability of various building materials in a substantial shorter time span than natural weather aging would have allowed. Climate parameters such as temperature that includes freezing/thawing cycles, relative air humidity, water spray amount, solar and/or ultraviolet (UV) radiation and exposure duration are controlled in different climate aging apparatuses. Various aging processes in building materials, aging both by natural and accelerated climate exposure, may be studied in an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) radiation analysis following the decomposition and/or formation of chemical bonds in these building materials and products.ATR-FTIR analysis of different building material samples exhibit various levels of experimental difficulties. In this investigation we have studied the FTIR spectra of climate-weathered wood, wood rot, mold fungus on wood, mold fungus on plasterboard, and plastic degradation by UV radiation. Both qualitative and quantitative results may be obtained by an ATR-FTIR analysis. In order to determine the aging progress and assess the effective lifetime of materials, components, or products, FTIR spectra should be recorded before, during, and after the climate aging. Hence, FTIR may be developed as an important tool to track the condition of various materials, components, and products during the lifetime of a building, and thereby applied as a tool for condition assessment, selection of maintenance intervals, and service life prediction of buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Material characterization may be carried out by the attenuated total reflectance (ATR) Fourier transforminfrared (FTIR) radiation spectroscopical technique, which represents a powerful experimental tool. The ATR technique may be applied on both solid state materials, liquids, and gases with none or onlyminor sample preparations, also including materials which are nontransparent to IR radiation. This facilitation is made possible by pressing the sample directly onto various crystals, for example, diamond, with high refractive indices, in a special reflectance setup. Thus ATR saves time and enables the study of materials in a pristine condition, that is, the comprehensive sample preparation by pressing thin KBr pellets in traditional FTIR transmittance spectroscopy is hence avoided. Materials and their ageing processes, both ageing by natural and accelerated climate exposure, decomposition and formation of chemical bonds and products, may be studied in an ATR-FTIR analysis. In this work, the ATR-FTIR technique is utilized to detect wood rot decay and mould fungi growth on various building material substrates. An experimental challenge and aim is to be able to detect the wood rot decay and mould fungi growth at early stages when it is barely visible to the naked eye. Another goal is to be able to distinguish between various species of fungi and wood rot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) material characterization by applying the attenuated total reflectance (ATR) experimental technique represents a powerful measurement tool. The ATR technique may be applied on both solid state materials, liquids and gases with none or only minor sample preparations, also including materials which are nontransparent to infrared radiation. This facilitation is made possible by pressing the sample directly onto various crystals, for example, diamond, with high refractive indices, in a special reflectance setup. Materials undergoing ageing processes by natural and accelerated climate exposure, decomposition and formation of chemical bonds and products, may be studied in an ATR-FTIR analysis. In this work, the ATRFTIR technique is utilized to detect changes in selected wood building material substrates subjected to accelerated climate exposure conditions. Changes in specific FTIR absorbance peaks are designated to different wood deterioration processes. One aim is by ATR-FTIR analysis to be able to quantitatively determine the length of the wood ageing time before priming/treatment. Climate parameters like temperature (including freezing/thawing), relative air humidity, wind driven rain amount, solar and/or ultraviolet radiation, and exposure duration may be controlled in different climate ageing apparatuses. Both impregnated and raw wood samples have been employed in the experimental investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]