Back to Search
Start Over
Antifungal Susceptibility Assessment of Innovative and Non-Conventional Lime Mortars Incorporating Almond-Shell Powder Bio-Waste Subjected to Particle-Dispersion Technique
- Source :
- Materials, Vol 17, Iss 6, p 1426 (2024)
- Publication Year :
- 2024
- Publisher :
- MDPI AG, 2024.
-
Abstract
- A favorable environment for fungi colonization in building materials’ surfaces can emerge when certain hygrothermal conditions occur. Thus, reducing fungal growth susceptibility is of major interest. Furthermore, if the integration of bio-wastes is performed in parallel with the development of innovative materials for this purpose, a more sustainable and environmentally friendly material can be obtained. In this study, the fungal susceptibility of lime mortars incorporating almond-shell powder (ASP) microparticles (2 and 4%, wt.–wt. in relation to the binder content) was evaluated. The particle-dispersion technique was employed to prepare the bio-waste introduced in the mixtures. The fungal susceptibility of ASP samples was compared with nanotitania (n-TiO2) with recognized antifungal properties. Mechanical strength, water absorption, and wettability tests were also performed for a better characterization of the composites. Although the addition of 2% ASP led to mechanical properties reduction, an increase in the compressive and flexural strength resulted for 4% of the ASP content. Difficulties in fungal growth were observed for the samples incorporating ASP. No fungal development was detected in the mortar with 2% of ASP, which may be correlated with an increase in the surface hydrophobic behavior. Furthermore, mortars with ASP revealed a reduction in water absorption by capillarity ability, especially with 4% content, suggesting changes in the microstructure and pore characteristics. The results also demonstrated that an improvement in the physical and mechanical properties of the lime mortars can be achieved when ASP microparticles are previously subjected to dispersion techniques.
- Subjects :
- lime mortars
almond-shell powder
particle-dispersion techniques
fungal susceptibility
wettability
mechanical properties
Technology
Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering
TK1-9971
Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
TA1-2040
Microscopy
QH201-278.5
Descriptive and experimental mechanics
QC120-168.85
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19961944
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- Materials
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.560df36fbf4a446f8b14fcee4157e9b4
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17061426