Surface properties of new green building material after TiO2–SiO2 coatings deposition

The aim of this study was the surface functionalization of a new green ceramic material, obtained using packaging glass waste (PGW), to improve its cleanability. This objective was reached through the deposition by air-brushing of a nanostructured coating based on titania–silica sol–gel suspension. The coatings were deposited on both glazed and unglazed ceramic substrates and the thermal treatment conditions (temperature) were optimized. The obtained results suggest that the applied coatings are transparent and show a good scratch resistance and photocatalitic activity under the tested conditions. The photodegradation process and the mechanical properties are clearly affected by the thermal treatment and thus by the sample surface roughness. The best surface properties were obtained with a thermal treatment at temperature of 150 °C. These coatings do not exhibit either cracks from the substrate. All in all, the developed surface modified ceramic material is attractive as potential sustainable building material.