Development of a Natural Surface Coating for Clay-Based Surfaces based on Historical Practices

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Civil Engineering‏,‏ Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa, P.O. Box: 10400, Bandaranayake Mawatha, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

2 Department of Design Studies, Faculty of Engineering, NSBM Green University, P.O. Box: 1132, Pitipana, Homagama, Sri Lanka

3 Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Esoft Metro Campus, P.O. Box: 03, De Fonseka Place, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Clay has been one of the earliest and most versatile building materials, essential for bricks and as a binder for plaster on earthen walls. Despite advancements in surface coatings, there is limited research on coatings specifically for clay-based surfaces. This study addresses this gap by developing a novel clay coating inspired by ancient Sri Lankan techniques. Key ingredients include Pine gum, Haldummala (Shorea oblongifolia), Dorana (Dipterocarpus glandulosus) oil, and ethanol. Fifteen samples with varying Haldummala concentrations (2-10 g in 2 g increments) were tested. Sample 2, with 4 g/L of Haldummala, showed superior properties: a density of 0.9529 kg/L, 55.48 % solid content, 21 seconds viscosity, 10.48 % opacity, and 33.5 gloss units at 60 °. No peeling, cracking, or blistering occurred after 500 hours of artificial aging in QUV tests. Both natural and commercial coatings showed similar gloss reductions (9-12 %) but retained over 80 % of their initial gloss, demonstrating strong UV resistance. The natural coating also achieved a permissible VOC content of 3.5 lb/gal. The carbon footprint analysis revealed that the natural coating emitted 1210 kg CO₂-equivalent, 61.9 % lower than the 3180 kg CO₂-equivalent of its commercial counterpart. This significant reduction highlights its environmental sustainability. Overall, the new formulation proved to be a durable, eco-friendly, and effective coating for clay-based surfaces, offering a viable alternative to conventional options.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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