The Influence of Micromycetes on the Corrosion Behaviour of Metals (Steel, Al) under Conditions of the Environment Polluted with Organic Substances

Biocorrosion is a process in which metabolic activities of microorganisms supply insoluble products that accept electrons from the base metal. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of 5 species of mitosporic fungi (Chrysosporium merdarium, Penicillium cyclopium, Arthrinium phaeospermum, Cladosporium herbarum, Aspergillus niger), obtained from metals exposed to natural environment conditions for a long time (0.5 to 2 years) on steel and Al, which are the main constituents of construction materials of technical purpose used in the polluted environment. The investigation were carried out in the following directions: fungal interaction with metal (steel, Al) surface; products of interaction of metal with fungi; metal surface morphology after the impact of fungi: nanometric evaluation of changes in the surface of metals. The influence of fungi on the corrosion rate was evaluated using polarization resistance as a criterium.