Performance assessment of cement and sulfur polymer-based light emitting and thermochromic building composites

This study presents a performance comparison of smart cement and sulfur composites containing thermochromic and light-emitting pigment phosphors. To achieve this goal, light-emitting and thermochromic cement and sulfur mortars were fabricated. The comparative performance evaluation of mortars was performed using water absorption tests, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) tests, and analytical characterizations, viz., XRD, SEM/EDX, and FTIR. In addition, cement and sulfur mortars were exposed to a control and an urban-industrial environment for 180 days. After that, color stability and deterioration in photo luminescence of mortars were determined for thermochromic and light-emitting mortars, respectively. The findings showed that sulfur mortars have higher compressive strength and UPV values, and lower water absorption. In addition, the thermochromic and light-emitting response for sulfur mortars was effectively retained compared to cement mortars. The sulfur polymer matrix exhibits durability under controlled and urban–industrial environmental conditions, where its dense, impenetrable microstructure protects the functional additives and helps sustain their thermal regulation and photoluminescence.