The mechanical and photocatalytic properties of modified gypsum materials

Co-modified TiO2 photocatalysts (TiO2-N,C) were added to commercial gypsum to obtain self-cleaning building material. The gypsum/TiO2 composite were also studied towards their mechanical properties. The highest photocatalytic activity was obtained for gypsum samples containing TiO2/N,C photocatalyst treated at 100–300 °C, attributed to high anatase phase participation, relatively high nitrogen and carbon content and high BET surface area (ca. 170–270 m2/g). In this case (300 °C) the model pollutant (azo dye) degradation rate was 85% and 70% after 15 h of UV and vis irradiation, respectively. Higher compressive strength values was observed for gypsum sample loaded with photocatalysts treated at higher temperatures (600–800 °C), attributed to rutile phase presence and large crystallite size. The grinding operation during gypsum/TiO2 composite preparation can contribute towards the increase of compressive strength (even 40%) by reduction of gypsum particle size whereas photocatalyst particles act as the effective fillers of void spaces in gypsum material.