Photocatalytic paving block surfaces
Today, interlocking paving blocks are the solution most commonly used for horizontal, cement-based photocatalytic applications in several countries, especially in Europe, Japan and North America). Until 2008, over 1 million square meters of photocatalytic surfaces were laid in Italy using cement-based materials – mostly paving blocks. An obvious question that arises from these innovative solutions is the assessment of in-service photocatalytic performance depending on traffic, dirt deposits and weather conditions. This article deals with the in-service performance of a photocatalytic pavement recently installed in Italy.
In this study, interlocking paving blocks were used for the reconstruction of a street over a length of 500 meters. Results appear to confirm a reduction in photocatalytic activity due to the presence of dust on the block surface. However, the cleaning action that results from regular washing/cleaning of the street or simply from the effect of rain allows to recover the initial performance levels even after several months in service.
Photocatalytic pavement solutions Photocatalytic cement-based products are increasingly used worldwide in the construction sector – in Europe, Japan, North...
