Investigation of antibacterial and superhydrophobic properties of zinc oxide modified porcelain tile glazes

Porcelain tiles are used as a coating material in many areas due to their low porosity level, good mechanical properties, thermal shock and frost resistance. In general, to increase the brightness of zinc oxide ceramic glazes and to stain the glaze crack. Zinc oxide is also an important metal oxide with antibacterial activity and superhydrophobic in itself. In the thesis study carried out, porcelain tile glazes modified with zinc oxide were investigated in order to benefit from the superhydrophobic feature of zinc oxide and to develop an antibacterial surface, and the surface was enlivened. The effect of the thesis coating, the particle size, the particle size of the zinc oxide powder (micro and nano), the thickness of the coating sequence and the surface of the process conditions were studied. Surface morphology and dispersion behavior of nano zinc oxide powders were monitored with scanning electron microscopy SE, BSE and EDX detectors, phase development X-Rays diffraction device, contact, contact angle laboratoryometry and measured antimicrobial tests were performed at SANITER. As a result, it was determined that nano zinc oxide doped surfaces have antibacterial properties (R: 2.2-2.4). The maximum contact angle obtained on the developed surfaces was 77°, and superhydrophobic surfaces (> 150) could not be obtained. While the wilmenite (Zn2SiO4) phase development was observed after the industrial firing of the glaze compositions made with the addition of zinc oxide in micron size, the use of nano-sized zinc oxide provided the development of the zinsite phase (ZnO). While cracks were observed on the surface when nano zinc oxide powder was added with other additives, the problem of cracking was solved by adding the nano powder after it was dispersed in a different environment. Two different types of dispersants, STPP and Darvan-C, were used for the dispersion of nano powders in different environments, and it was observed that both dispersants were effective in dispersing nano zinc oxide powders. No cracking problem was encountered after drying and firing on surfaces with single and double glaze application.