Impact of biocidal and dispersant chemical admixtures on sustainable paints for construction containing granite and marble waste

Abstract

The reuse of waste generated from granite and marble processing as inert pigments in eco-friendly paints shows promise. However, the lack of an effective process for dispersing and stabilizing pigments, along with the low resistance of mixtures to attack by biological agents, can compromise the performance or even make the use of these paints unfeasible. Therefore, this study aims to provide new insights into this area by investigating the effects of biocidal and dispersant additives on the performance of PVA latex paints made from granite and marble waste. Through an experimental mixture design, varying proportions of waste and additives were systematically investigated. Tests were conducted for determination of solid content, pH, viscosity, dispersion quality, resistance to bacterial growth, hiding power, and abrasion resistance. The results indicated that adding biocidal additives maintained paint properties and significantly reduced bacterial growth, extending shelf-life. However, the inclusion of dispersant additives improved the components dispersion, but compromised the paint abrasion resistance. Thus, caution is warranted when using high concentrations of dispersant additives. In summary, this study provided guidance for formulating sustainable and performance-effective paints.