Accelerated laboratory test to study fungal biodeterioration of cementitious matrix

The present study aimed to develop an accelerated laboratory test to study the biodeteriorative effect of different fungal strains to a cementitious matrix. The test developed in this study permits to obtain a rapid fungal development on cement specimens. Three months of experiments only are needed to obtain first results, which is rather shorter than other test developed to date to study fungal biodeterioration. Results are mainly related to aesthetical biodeterioration. Results show that in these experimental conditions, fungal growth occurs since the first week of incubation. Stereomicroscopy observations showed that microbial growth was noticed only on the surface of specimens, while PAS staining revealed the real extent of microbial growth on and within the matrix as later confirmed by SEM observations of cross section showing the penetration of hyphae inside the matrix. Test can be used with short time of incubation, to test and to compare bioreceptivity of cement-based materials; and several months of incubation should allow the study of mechanisms involved in biodeterioration.