Título

Tests for Waterproofing Materials, Made of Opuntia ficus-indica

Autor

ARTURO SANTAMARIA ORTEGA

MIGUEL ANGEL RUBIO TOLEDO

Gerardo Hernández Neria

RICARDO VICTORIA URIBE

Sandra Alicia Utrilla Cobos

MARCO ANTONIO GARCIA ALBARRAN

Nivel de Acceso

Acceso Abierto

Resumen o descripción

Cacti are thoroughly found all across the Mexican Territory. In the mountain ranges, and sierras. The cactus known as Opuntia ficus-indica grows naturally in the State of Mexico. Cacti have been used for millennia for multiple purposes. From culinary, to art involving other materials such as calcium oxide and salt. There are about 300 different species of cacti around the globe. About 100 are found in Mexico. Extensive research has been made and often, new and innovative uses are discovered. This paper features another use for Opuntia ficus-indica: Waterproofing on building surfaces exposed to the elements (i.e. Sunlight and humidity). This paper shows the process involving six stages using Opuntia ficus-indica combined with different natural materials were experimented with, and tested by evaluating their unique performance.

Mexican cacti have captivated the scientific community due their extraordinary characteristics and benefits.This research established a new way to use this ancestral plant as a substitute for other construction materials that given their industrial and technological processes have -in several cases- skyrocketed their costs, besides of being a constant hazard for the environment. Thus, by looking back how ancestors used to solve their construction needs, it would ultimately allow us to find better ways to protect the environment. Production process is analyzed; experimented with it; and its prominent characteristics analyzed derived from Opuntia ficus-indica extract combined with other natural materials to be then used it as a waterproofing material.

Editor

Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland

Fecha de publicación

17 de agosto de 2018

Tipo de publicación

Artículo

Fuente

1662-9779

Idioma

Inglés

Audiencia

Estudiantes

Investigadores

Repositorio Orígen

REPOSITORIO INSTITUCIONAL DE LA UAEM

Descargas

231

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