Effect of Sodium Paraben-based Anti-fungal Agents in Controlling the Aspergillus Niger Growth in Cement Mortars

This study deals with application of sodium-paraben based anti-fungal agents in cement mortars and their effect on the physical, mechanical, and anti-fungal activity. The fungus Aspergillus Niger, typically found in damp buildings, grew on cement composites. Sodium propyl parahydroxybenzoate (SPP) and sodium methyl parahydroxybenzoate (SMP), two sodium paraben anti-fungal agents, were used in pastes and mortars at dosages of 1 and 2 wt.% relative to cement. The results of the study show that the use of anti-fungal agents containing sodium paraben reduces the compressive strength of cement mortar and the setting time of hardened cement paste. The results of the biodeterioration test demonstrated that mortars incorporating with anti-fungal agents containing sodium paraben are less susceptible to fungal attack. Analytical characterizations such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis showed that the use of sodium paraben based antifungal agents increased the resistance of mortars against the fungal attack.