The study of rod-shaped TiO2 composite material in the protection of stone cultural relics

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> has many advantages, such as UV resistance, thermal stability, and antibacterial; the attention toward TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> composite materials (TCMs) is rapidly increasing in the protection of stone culture relics. An innovative rod-shaped TCM was synthesized in this study. The structure and morphology of TCM were studied by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The acid resistance, weather resistance, hydrophilicity, and photocatalytic performance of TCM had been investigated. The experimental results indicated that TCM has good protection effects. The stone sample treated with TCM has stronger acid resistance and weather resistance, better hydrophilicity, and more excellent photocatalytic activity compared with the untreated stone. More importantly, the stone treated with TCM has better acid resistance and weather resistance than that treated with normal shaped TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> materials of the previous study. This work describes an effective way to protect stone cultural relics.</jats:p>