International Journal of Scientific Research and Review ISSN NO: 2279-543X

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON SELF CLEANING CONCRETE BY REPLACING

CEMENT BY TITANIUM DIOXIDE
Rajamuniasamy*, Mercy**, Praveen***, Devan****, Shindo*****
*Department of Civil Engineering, Shri Sapthagiri Institute of Technology, India
**Department of Civil Engineering, Francis Xavier Engineering College, India
***Department of Civil Engineering, Pandian Saraswathi Yadav Engineering College, India
****Department of Civil Engineering, Shri Sapthagiri Institute of Technology, India
*****Department of Civil Engineering, Shri Sapthagiri Institute of Technology, India

Abstract: Concrete is the most widely used construction materials for building technology. However, cement
production releases high amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere that leads to increasing the global
warming. Thus, an alternative, environmental friendly construction material such as geopolymer concrete has been
developed. Geopolymer concrete applies greener alternative binder, which is an innovative construction material that
replaces the Portland cement. This technology introduced nano-particles such as nanoclay into the cement paste in
order to improve their mechanical properties. The concrete materials also have been developed to be functioned as
self-cleaning construction materials. The self-cleaning properties of the concrete are induced by introducing the
photocatalytic materials such as titania (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO). Self-cleaning concrete that contains those
photocatalysts will be energized by ultraviolet (UV) radiation and accelerates the decomposition of organic
particulates. Thus, the cleanliness of the building surfaces can be maintained and the air surrounding air pollution can
be reduced. This paper briefly reviews about self-cleaning concrete.

I. Introduction
A construction material removes pollutants from the air as it keeps its surface clean. This new
astonishing concrete that not only keeps itself clean but also removes pollutants from the air is called Self Cleaning
Concrete. The key to such properties are photo catalytic components that use the energy from ultraviolet rays to oxidize
most organic and some inorganic compounds. Air pollutants that would normally result in discoloration of exposed
surfaces are removed from the atmosphere by the components, and their residues are washed off by rain. So, this new
cement can be used to produce concrete and plaster products that save on maintenance costs while they ensure a
cleaner environment. When light and heat strikes the concrete's surface, catalysts (usually titanium oxides) use that
energy to break down the dirt into molecules like oxygen, water, carbon dioxide, nitrates, and sulphates. Gases float
away, while liquids or solids are left on surface to be washed away by rain. Through a similar process, concrete can
also break down pollutants in the air around it: if a pollutant strikes the surface, the titanium oxide reacts with it in the
same way.
II. Materials and their Properties
Cement
Cement is a material that has cohesive and adhesive properties in the presence of water. Such cements are
called hydraulic cements. Cement is a binding material in concrete, which binds the other materials to form a compact
mass. Generally OPC is used for all Engineering Construction works. OPC is available in three grades of 33, 43, and
53. In this project, 53 grade cement is used for the experimental study. Table 1 below shows the properties of cement.
Table 1. Properties of Cement
Sl.No Property Value

1 Specific Gravity 3.15

2 Initial Setting time 40 min

3 Final Setting Time 450 Min

4 Standard Consistency 30%

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Fine Aggregate
Concrete with better quality can be made with sand consisting of rounded grains rather than angular grains
.River or manufactured sand must be used and not sea sand as it contains salt other impurities. In this project study,
manufactured sand is used as fine aggregate. By conducting sieve analysis the zone is found.
Manufactured sand (M-Sand) is a substitute of river sand for concrete construction. Manufactured
sand is produced from hard granite stone by crushing. The crushed sand is of cubical shape with grounded edges,
washed and graded to as a construction material. The size of manufactured sand (M-Sand) is less than 4.75mm. Table
2 below shows the properties of river sand and M-sand
Table 2. Properties of river sand and M-sand
Sl.No Properties River Sand M-Sand
1. Specific Gravity 2.62 2.84
2 Fineness 2.6 2.8
modulus
3. Water 6.5 % 5.4 %
Absorption

Coarse Aggregate
Coarse aggregate is mined from rock quarries or dredged from river beds, therefore the size, shape, hardness,
texture and many other properties can vary greatly based on location. Most generally, coarse aggregate can be
characterized as either smooth or rounded (such as river gravel) or angular (such as crushed stone). Because of this
variability, test methods exist to characterize the most relevant characteristics since exact identification would be
impossible. Several key characteristics that are frequently used to describe the behavior of coarse aggregates include
relative density (or specific gravity), bulk density, and absorption. In our studies 20mm aggregate is used. Table 3
shows the properties of Coarse aggregates.
Table 3. Properties of Coarse aggregate
Sl.No Properties Coarse aggregate

1. Specific Gravity 2.88

2 Impact Value 26
3. Water 0.5%
Absorption

TITANIUM DIOXIDE
Titanium dioxide is a chemical compound, also known as titanium oxide or titania, is the naturally occurring oxide
of titanium, chemical formula TiO2. The photo catalytic activity, which is another property of TiO2, is increased
considerably through the high surface-to-volume ratio of the nanoparticles as compared to that of micro particles.
Scientific studies on photo catalysis started about two and a half decades ago. Titanium dioxide (TiO2), which
is one of the most basic materials in our daily life, has emerged as an excellent photo catalyst material for
environmental purification. In this review, current progress in the area of TiO2 photo catalysis, mainly photo catalytic
air purification is studied. Photo catalysis takes place only when the surface is treated with UV light or sun light. Its
molecular formula TiO2 and molecular weight 79.87, is a kind of powder. Titanium dioxide colour is white. Formula
for titanium dioxide is TiO2.
Titanium dioxide case no. IS 13463-67-7 is a soft solid and melts at 1800 Degrees Celsius. It has special
performance, such as insulation, corrosion, flags, etc. It is polymorphous and it exists in three types of crystal structures
a) rutile, b)anatase, c)brookite.

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STRUCTURE OF TITANIUM DIOXIDE:

Fig 1 Structure of Titanium Oxide

Physical structure: Rutile type, sharp titanium type; crystallization, department of the four winds of crystal.
Lattice constant: A shaft 0.458, C shaft 0.795 A shaft 0.378, C shaft 0.949
A shaft: 7.19 X 10-6 2.88 to 10-6
C shaft: 9.94 X 10-6 6.44 to 10-6
Almost everything has two aspects of the property. The titanium dioxide properties also have two sides: the
physical properties of titanium dioxide and the titanium dioxide chemical properties. Following, briefly introduce it.
The physical properties of titanium dioxide include titanium dioxide solubility, titanium dioxide colour and so on.
Next, I give an elaboration.
THE PHYSICAL PROPERTY OF TITANIUM DIOXIDE:
Molar mass : 79.8658 g · mol-1
Refractive index : 2.76 ~ 2.55
Moh’s Hardness : 6-7, 5.5-6
Capacitance ratio : 114 to 31
The coefficient of linear expansion : 25 ℃
Thermal Conductivity : 1.809 to 10.3
Oil Absorption : 16 ~48, 18 ~30
Particle size : 0.2 ~ 0.3, 0.3

Solubility: It is insoluble in dilute alkali, dilute acid, but soluble in hot concentrated sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid,
nitric acid. The solubility of titanium dioxide is related to solutes.
Relative Density: In the commonly used white pigment, the relative density of titanium dioxide is minimum. Of the
same quality white pigment, titanium dioxide surface area is the largest and pigment volume is the highest.
Permittivity: Because of high dielectric constant of titanium dioxide, it has excellent electrical properties. Anatase
titanium dioxide’s permittivity is lower, only 48.
Conductivity: Titanium dioxide with the performance of the semiconductor, its conductivity increased rapidly with
increasing temperature, but also is very sensitive to hypoxia.
Melting and Boiling points: It can be transformed into rutile when anatase and plate titanium dioxide are at high
temperatures, so melting and boiling points of the board of rutile and anatase titanium dioxide actually does not exist.
Only rutile titanium dioxide has a melting point and boiling point, rutile titanium dioxide, a melting point of 1850 C,
the melting point in oxygen-rich is 1879 C. The melting point of titanium dioxide is related to the purity of the titanium
dioxide.

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Hydroscopicity: Although titanium dioxide has hydroscopicity, but not too strong. The hydrophilic is related to
surface area. The surface area is larger; the moisture absorption is higher. The moisture absorption of titanium dioxide
is relevant to the surface treatment and the nature too.
Thermal Stability: Titanium dioxide has a good thermal stability, the general amount of 0.01% to 0.12%.
THE CHEMICAL PROPERTY OF TITANIUM DIOXIDE:
Titanium dioxide is non-toxic and chemical properties are stable. It almost has no reaction with other material
produce under normal temperature. It is a partial acid. It has no reaction with oxygen, hydrogen sulphur, sulphur
dioxide, carbon dioxide and ammonia and is not soluble in water, fatty acids, other organic acid and weak inorganic
acid except for alkali and hot nitric acid.
But, in some specific conditions, titanium dioxide can get reaction with some substance. For example, these
reactions as follows:
Only in the circumstance of long time boiling can it be totally soluble in strong sulphuric acid and
hydrofluoric acid.
The reaction equation is as follows:
TiO2+ 2H2 SO4 = Ti(SO4)4 + 2H2O
TiO2+ H2 SO4 = TiOSO

In our project cement is replaced by 3%, 4% and 5% of titanium dioxide and further examined.
RHODAMINE B DYE
It is a chemical compound and a dye. It is often used as a tracer dye within water to determine the rate and
direction of flow and transport. Rhodamine dyes fluoresce and can thus be detected easily and inexpensively with
instruments called fluorometers. Rhodamine dyes are used extensively in biotechnology applications such as
fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and ELISA.

PROPERTIES
Chemical formula : C28 H31 C1 N2 O3
Molar mass : 479.02
Appearance : red to violet powder
Melting point : 210 to 211 °C (410 to 412 °F; 483 to 484 K)
Solubility in water : ~15 g/L (20 °C) [1]
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
Nitrogen dioxide is the chemical compound with the formula NO2. It is one of several nitrogen oxides. NO2 is an
intermediate in the industrial synthesis of nitric acid, millions of tons of which are produced each year. At higher
temperatures it is a reddish-brown gas that has a characteristic sharp, biting odour and is a prominent air pollutant.
Nitrogen dioxide is a paramagnetic, bent molecule with C2v point group symmetry.
PROPERTIES
Chemical formula : NO2
Molar mass : 46.0055 g mol−1
Appearance : Vivid orange gas
Odour : Chlorine like
Density : 1.88 g dm−3[2]
Melting point : 11.2 °C (11.8 °F; 261.9 K)

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Boiling point : 21.2 °C (70.2 °F; 294.3 K)

Solubility in water : Hydrolyses
Solubility : soluble in CCl4, nitric acid.
Vapour pressure : 98.80 kPa (at 20 °C)
Magnetic susceptibility (χ) : +150.0·10−6 cm3/mol
Refractive index (Nd) : 1.449 (at 20 °C)
Point group : C2v
Molecular shape : Bent
Specific heat capacity (C) : 37.5 J/mol K
Std molar entropy (So298) : 240 J mol−1 K−1[4]
Std enthalpy offormation (ΔfHo298) : +34 Kj mol−1[4]
HAZARDS
Main hazards : Poison, oxidizer
GHS signal word : Danger
III Experimental Investigation
Batching of materials
Volume batching is not good method for proportioning the material because of difficulty it offers to measure
granular material in terms of volume. Volume of moist sand is loose conditions weighs much less than the same
volume of dry compacted sand. The amount of solid granular material in cubic meter is indefinite quantities because
of this for quality concrete materials have to measure by weigh only.
Mixing and Casting
The properties of the material, which are used for investigation, are presented in this section. All the
experiments that are adapted to determine characteristics of the material are carried out as per Indian standards. This
section also includes mix design for concrete as per Indian standards. The casting procedure was explained under five
categories:
• Material used
• Mould details
• Preparation of mould
• Preparation of concrete
• Preparing the specimen for testing.
Concrete was hand mixed and specimens were casted using steel moulds. Specimens were demoulded 24 hours
after casting and cured at 27 2°C in water until the testing age of 28days.
CURING
Concrete derives its strength by the hydration of cement particles. The hydration of cement is not a momentary
action but a process continuing for long time. Of course, the rate of hydration is fast to start with, but continues over
a very long time at a decreasing rate. The quantity of the product of hydration and consequently the amount of get
formed depends upon the extent of hydration. It has been mentioned earlier that cement requires a w/e ratio about 0.23
for hydration and a w/e ration of 0.15 for filling the voids in a gel pores. In other works, a w/c of about 0.38 would be
required to hydrate all the particles of cement and also to occupy the space in the gel pores.

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Fig 2 Curing Of Cubes

5.4 TESTING ON CONCRETE
The experimental program was designed to study the properties of concrete with partial replacement of cement
by titanium dioxide for M20 grade of concrete. The compressive strength of the cubes after replacing the cement by
3% and 4% and 5% as is check for after 28 days. For the test specimens, 53 grade ordinary Portland cement,
manufactured sand and coarse aggregate, titanium dioxide are being utilized. The maximum size of the coarse
aggregate was limited to 20mm. The concrete mix proportions of M20 with the water cement ratio of 0.4 were used.
The concrete mix design was proposed to achieve the compressive strength of 20MPa after 28 days curing, in
case of cubes. The concrete cubes (150mm x 150mm x 150mm), for conventional as well as other mixes were casted.
Each layer was compacted with 25 blow using 16mm diameter rod.

6.4.1 COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST

Fig 3 Compression Testing Machine

Compressive test is the most common test conducted on hardened concrete, partly because it is an easy test to
perform, the partly because most of the desirable characteristic properties of concrete are qualitatively related to its
compressive strength.
The compressive test is carried out on specimens cubical or cylindrical in shape. The cube specimen is of the
size 150mm x 150mm x 150mm. The test cube specimens are made as soon as practicable after mixing and such a
way as to produce full compaction of the concrete with neither segregation nor excessive laitance.
The concrete is filled into mould in layers approximately 50mm deep. The cubes are tested as per IS: 516-
1979. The tests are done on an electro-hydraulically operated compression-testing machine and compressive load is
applied on opposite faces axially, slowly at the rate of 140 MPa/minute. The compressive load is noted for the ultimate
failure.
In this project the cement was partially replaced by Titanium oxide in 3% , 4 % and 5% by weight of
Cement. The Specimens were casted and cured. The Compressive strength of Concrete was determined as per Indian
standard Specifications and the results are tabulated under.

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Table 4 Comparison of Compressive Strength

% of
S.NO 7 days 14 days 28 days
Tio2
1 3 25.04 28.88 32.6
2 4 22.64 26.66 30.1
3 5 19.82 21.93 27

35
32.60
30.10
30
Compressive Strength (N/mm2)

28.88
26.66 27.02
25.04
25
22.04 21.93
19.86
20 7 days

15 14 days
28 days
10

0
3% TiO2 4% TiO2 5% TiO2

Fig 4Comparison of Compressive Strength

RHODAMINE B DYE DECOLOURIZATION TEST

In this test the concrete containing TiO2 photo catalysts have been evaluated based on decolourization under
sun light, a standard test for self cleaning cementious materials. Experimental data are discussed in relation to dye
decolourization of 3%, 4% and 5% of TiO2 replaced concrete under sunlight.
On the surface of the casted concrete cubes 1ml of rhodamine dye is dropped on each cube sample and placed
under direct sunlight and the results are recorded.

Fig 5 sample cubes placed under sunlight Fig 6 after 5 hours under sunlight

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Fig 7 After 12 Hours Under Sunlight

The above picture samples show that the decolourization of rhodamine dye occurs on the surface of the cubes
after some hours. The observation shows that the value of decolourization increases when the percentage of TiO2
increases.

NITROGEN DIOXIDE GAS OXIDATION TEST

In this experimental test the oxidation time of nitrogen dioxide gas is measured for each sample with 3%,
4%, 5% of titanium dioxide. The time taken by each sample to oxidize the nitrogen dioxide gas is found and the
conclusion is made by those results.
PREPARATION OF NO2 GAS

The nitrogen gas is prepared by mixing copper turnings with concentrated nitric acid.

Cu + 4HNO3 = Cu(NO3)2 + 2NO2 + 2H2O

Fig 8 NO2 GAS Fig 9 allowing gas to enter into glass cube Fig 10 after 1
hour under sunlight

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Fig 11 after 2 hours under sunlight Fig 12 after 3 hours under sunlight

Fig 13 after 4 hours under sunlight Fig 14 after 5 hours under sunlight

III. Conclusion
a. The concrete in which cement is partially replaced by 3% of titanium dioxide shows gradual increase in
compressive strength.
b. Compressive strength of concrete sample with 3%, 4% and 5% of titanium dioxide after 28 days curing
is higher than the target mean strength.
c. The decolourization test results show that when the titanium dioxide content is high then the decolourization is
also high.
d. The oxidation of nitrogen dioxide gas is high when titanium dioxide content is high.
e. The decolourization and oxidation process is mainly depends on climate of the environment.
f. From above study it is better to use the concrete sample with 5% of titanium dioxide for strength,
decolourization of rhodamine dye and oxidation of NO2 gas

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First Author - Rajamuniasamy, M.E (STRUCTURAL ENGG), Shri Sapthagiri Institute of Technology.
Second Author – Mercy, M.E (CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING & MANAGEMENT),
Francis Xavier Engineering College.
Third Author - Praveen, M.E M.E (STRUCTURAL ENGG , Pandian Saraswathi Yadav Engineering.
Fourth Author – Devan, M.E (CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING & MANAGEMENT), Shri Sapthagiri Institute of
Technology.
Fifth Author - Shindo, M.E (CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING & MANAGEMENT), Shri Sapthagiri Institute of
Technology.

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