Effects of Anti-Graffiti Protection on Concrete Durability

Abstract

The heritage of fair-faced concrete, largely built in the twentieth century and nowadays recognized as heritage to be protected, is susceptible to attacks by graffiti, a form of vandalism that causes a major social and economic impact on society. Concrete is a porous material sometimes deteriorated over the years, and the interactions between the inks and the substrate and removal methods sometimes deteriorate or alter the concrete surface, especially if it is necessary to repeat the removal process. The anti-graffiti products are applied on the surface of the concrete, hindering the adhesion of paints or preventing its penetration into the pores of concrete, which in turn facilitates their removal. However, it appears that many of the existing protective products on the market may also alter the surface characteristics of the concrete irreversibly. Considering that the durability of concrete depends on the composition and characteristics of the surface, it is essential to know the effects of anti-graffiti protection systems on the durability of concrete and adopt the appropriate methodology to preserve this heritage. Thus, an experimental program was developed for analyzing changes in durability indicators and surface properties that protect concrete from deterioration (i) concrete without protection before and after application of spray paint, (ii) concrete with protection before and after application of spray paint and (iii) after paint removal were studied. Two anti-graffiti products were evaluated: a permanent and a sacrificial one. Effects of the anti-graffiti systems on the concrete durability are investigated and the tests performed include: water absorption by capillary and immersion at atmospheric pressure. The results of the water absorption tests show that the graffiti protection reduces the water absorption into the concrete and facilitates the removal of the graffiti without affecting negatively the characteristics of the surface and thus contributing to improve its durability.