This paper provides initial results from experimental work on the durability of external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS). In order to predict service life of ETICS, the accelerated climatic cycle was composed on the basis of earlier scientific research and the statistic data of the Lithuanian climate. The research aims to assess the durability and service life of finishing coat by calculating the amount of moisture while measuring the 24 h water absorption of the samples during water absorption and drying testing either by measuring the changes of bond strength. The offered accelerated weathering cycle could be useful for ETICS manufacturers and it could be used for testing and proof of highly frost-resistant products.
The paper proposes the durability prediction method for external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS), which could be applied in cold and wet climate regions. This improved method is based on the international and nowadays applicable standards for systems service life assessment (ETAG 004, ISO 15462), and completes them with other necessary impact criteria. This study examines the main climate exposures and how these impacts reproduced in the laboratories. The paper analyses the extreme air temperature and rainfall changes, the intensity of ultraviolet radiation (UV) in Lithuania. The analysis is based on evaluation of daily and yearly data recorded by meteorological stations. The aim of the research is to compose the accelerated ageing cycle for ETICS taking into account the characteristics of building materials and identifying the potential degradation factors and indicators. In order to establish the combinations of impacts in ageing cycles, it is necessary the adequate evaluation of intensity of environmental exposures of a certain locality. The basic goal is to create the reliable accelerated ageing cycle which would be as similar as natural ageing.
This paper presents the experimental investigation results of finishing render of external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS). The study involved natural (long-term) and artificially accelerated (short-term) ageing including effect of UV radiation. The cycle of accelerated UV radiation ageing test, imitating the impact of one natural year in Lithuanian climate conditions, have been used. In order to determine the visual, microstructure and water absorption changes and find out the correlation between the natural and artificial weathering, the results of tested aged and untreated samples have been compared. The main attention was focused on the changes of structure and physical properties after short-term and long-term ageing tests. The structural changes of render surface of ETICS after UV tests were determined using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The water absorption of ETIC system was determined by partially submersion. Analysis of render surface microstructure showed that UV rays destroy the continuous polymer film on the acrylic and silicone render surface, but water absorption of ETICS does not increase in both cases. Water absorption rates of acrylic, silicon and silicate renders after one natural year of exposure become similar. The polymer film formed on exterior acrylic and silicone render surface was destroyed during one year natural and equivalent laboratory ageing. In conjunction, the carbonization process was taking place, the newly formed calcite crystals covering pores and capillaries, consequently the water absorption rate of all ETICS samples decreased.
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