New Method for Photoactive Cement Preparation—Selected Mechanical Properties and Photocatalytic Activity of New Materials

In this study, a new method of obtaining photoactive cements is presented. The goal was to obtain photoactive cements using a method that could reduce the production costs. In the study, an intermediate product from the production of titanium dioxide using the sulfate method, taken from the installation before the calcination process, was used to obtain photoactive cements. Laboratory conditions corresponding to introducing this amorphous TiO₂ into cement clinker during its cooling were simulated. The study shows that the temperature from 300 to 800 °C and the time of amorphous TiO₂ contact with the cement clinker within 30 min is sufficient to obtain a photoactive cement. The highest photocatalytic activity was obtained for the material with 5 wt.% TiO₂ content, and the method used did not cause a significant decrease in the bending and compressive strength of the new photoactive cements. The obtained materials were characterized by determining the crystal size of the TiO₂, the sulfur content and the photocatalytic activity during NO decomposition under UV radiation. The bending and compressive strength were measured. The influence of the addition of photocatalysts on the beginning and end of the setting time was also investigated.