LCA of nanotitania functionalized porcelainized stoneware tiles

The unglazed fine porcelainized stoneware tile, also called porcelainized stoneware or grés, is a product used both for internal and external applications in building field due to its low-porosity, high mechanical, abrasion, chemical and stain resistance. Nevertheless the internal closed porosity of this materials, that appears during the polishing phase, is responsible for its tendency to get dirty. Recently several interventions have been done by developing new easy-to-clean or self-cleaning surfaces by the aid of nanotechnology. In particular to improve surface cleanability properties the photocatalicity of TiO2 nanoparticles has been used. However, while nanotechnology could suggest solutions to various environmental problems, there are currently little information about the impact that these applications may cause to the ecosystem and to the human health even if recent studies have drawn attention to their potential toxicity. The aim of the present study has been to ecodesign, by LCA methodology, a porcelainized stoneware tile functionalized with nanoTiO2. The functional unit chosen for this study is 1 m2 of functionalized coating. The LCA study has been performed using the SimaPro 7.3.3 software and IMPACT 2002+ impact assessment method. The system boundaries for the analysis ranging from raw material extraction to panel recycling, thus obtaining “a cradle to the grave” overview. In this study a preliminary attempt to define the benefits derived from the use of nanoTiO2 and the damage generated by the emissions of titania nanoparticles during the use and end of life phases have been also reported. The results of LCA analysis [table1] indicates that the higher environmental impact is mainly due to the production step.