Synergistic effect of the consolidant and the photocatalytic coating on antifungal activity of porous mineral substrates

Abstract The goal of the paper is the investigation of synergistic action of newly developed consolidants and LDH_TiO 2 photocatalytic suspension on the characteristics (antifungal efficiency and surface properties) of the selected mineral substrates: brick and render. There were two different application protocols employed: protocol (1) the fresh photocatalytic suspension was applied on already consolidated substrates aged for 1, 2, 4 and 7 months, and protocol (2) only once on all specimens aged 1 month after the consolidant application. This study provides an insight into the synergistic effect of the applied materials on the antifungal activity, hydrophilicity and performances of the substrates’ surface during UV irradiation. The decrease of OH − ions on the surface, revealed from the photocatalytic suspension, showed a positive effect on the surface stability and antifungal properties of the mineral surface. Based on the obtained results, the most suitable protocol for the application of the photocatalytic suspension on the already consolidated and aged porous substrates has been adopted.