ULTRA-LIGHTWEIGHT CEMENT COMPOSITES AND PHOTOCATALYTIC COATING FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDINGS

Abstract

Cooling energy consumption of buildings correlates to heat transfer through opaque building envelope which can be reduced by decreased thermal conductivity and increased solar reflectance of building envelope. This thesis focuses on the development and evaluation of Ultra-lightweight cement composites (ULCCs) with low thermal conductivity and photocatalytic coating with high solar reflectance for energy efficient buildings. Ultra-lightweight cement composites with low thermal conductivity but high specific strength for structural applications were developed by incorporation of hollow cenospheres. The effect of fly ash and silica fume on the rheological parameters, stability, Ca(OH)2 content, and strength development of ULCCs has been experimentally investigated. The ability of a photocatalytic coating to maintain the solar reflectance of opaque building envelope by removing deposited pollutants from the surface was experimentally demonstrated. Individual and combined effect of ULCC and photocatalytic coating on the heat transfer through mortar specimens are quantitatively evaluated under controlled experimental condition.