In this study a preventive method to fight bio-deterioration of stone substrates is proposed. It is based on the use of bioactive zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) capable to exert a marked biological activity over a long period of time thanks to their peculiar structure. ZnO-NPs are synthesised by means of a simple and reproducible electrochemical procedure. The nanomaterials are embedded in consolidant/water repellent matrices to obtain nanostructured coatings. Commonly used products based on tetraethoxysilane and/or polysiloxanes were tested. The resulting nanomaterials were fully characterised with X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) to investigate the amount and speciation of the NPs and the behaviour of the nanocomposites. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used for the study of the metal release from the composites when put in contact with artificial rain water. The nanocomposites were applied on specimens composed of three different types of stone, and chromatic changes upon curing were measured with spectrophotocolorimetry. Finally, a morphological characterization by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was performed. ZnO-NPs nanocomposites bioactivity was also assessed in preliminary tests against Aspergillus niger fungus.
Characterization and behaviour of ZnO-based nanocomposites designed for the control of stone monuments biodeterioration
SABBATINI, LUIGIA
2015-01-01
Abstract
In this study a preventive method to fight bio-deterioration of stone substrates is proposed. It is based on the use of bioactive zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) capable to exert a marked biological activity over a long period of time thanks to their peculiar structure. ZnO-NPs are synthesised by means of a simple and reproducible electrochemical procedure. The nanomaterials are embedded in consolidant/water repellent matrices to obtain nanostructured coatings. Commonly used products based on tetraethoxysilane and/or polysiloxanes were tested. The resulting nanomaterials were fully characterised with X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) to investigate the amount and speciation of the NPs and the behaviour of the nanocomposites. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used for the study of the metal release from the composites when put in contact with artificial rain water. The nanocomposites were applied on specimens composed of three different types of stone, and chromatic changes upon curing were measured with spectrophotocolorimetry. Finally, a morphological characterization by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was performed. ZnO-NPs nanocomposites bioactivity was also assessed in preliminary tests against Aspergillus niger fungus.
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