194-TDP : Application of Titanium dioxide photocatalysis to construction materials

Technical Committee 194-TDP


General Information

Chair: Prof. Dr. Yoshihiko OHAMA
Activity starting in: 2001
Cluster E

Subject matter

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) with a crystalline modification of anatase is a semiconducting material which can be chemically activated by solor light or ultraviolet radiation, that is, has a photoactivity or photocatalysis. The beginning of practically applicable photocatalysis of TiO2 originates with a discovery of the photocatalytic splitting of water on TiO2 electrodes by two Japanese scientists, Fujishima and Honda in 1972. In the past ten years, the technology of TiO2 photocatalysis has progressed rapidly, and become very attractive in the applications of self-cleaning, air-cleaning and antibacterial effects in the construction industry. As a result, various construction materials are developed by utilizing the TiO2 photocatalysis at present.

Terms of reference

The committee work will have the duration of five years. The committee will comprise about ten active members and about three to five corresponding members. The affiliations of the committee members will be approximately 40 to 50% academic, 30 to 40% industry and 10 to 20% practice. The committee work will be mainly conducted by bibliographical research and organizing an international symposium. The results of the committee work will be prepared as the-state-of-the art report and the symposium proceedings.
The provisional timetable is as follows:
2001-2003 Survey, review and evaluation of various references
2004 International symposium
2004-2005 State-of-the-art report

Detailed working programme

To accomplish the proposed goal, the committee will survey, review and evaluate comprehensive references on the following items, organize the international symposium, and prepare the-state-of-the-art report:
(1)Fundamentals of practically applicable TiO2 photocatalysis in construction materials fields
(2)Benefits of construction materials utilizing TiO2 photocatalysis
(3)Development of self-cleaning construction materials with TiO2 photocatalyst
(4)Development of air-cleaning construction materials with TiO2 photocatalyst
(5)Development of antibacterial construction materials with TiO2 photocatalyst
(6)Possibility of future development of useful construction materials with TiO2 photocatalyst

Technical environment

 The committee will liase with national and international organizations, and the following previous and existing RILEM Technical Committees:
(1)RILEM TC ECB Environmental Criteria for Building Products
(2)RILEM TC EDM Environmental Design Methods in Materials and Structural Engineering
(3)RILEM TC EID Systematic of the Environmental Impact Database of Building Materials
(4)RILEM TC SRM Sustainable Application of Mineral Raw Materials in Construction
(5) RILEM TC MIB Microbial Impacts on Building Materials ? Weathering and Conservation

The committee work fits in with the following items of RILEM Technical Programme:
(1)Performance, maintenance and repair of building materials and structures during the service life
(2)Improved and controlled manufacture of materials and structures
(3)Impact of building materials on the environment and on the health of human beings

Expected achievements

(1)State-of-the-art report
(2)Symposium proceedings

Group of users

(1)Academics (universities, colleges and research institutes)
(2)Testing and certification laboratories
(3)Industrialists (materials suppliers and application engineers)
(4)Practitioners (architects and specificers)

Specific use of the results

Construction materials with TiO2 photocatalyst will be environment-conscious materials, and contribute to sustainable development in the construction industry.