Algal colonization kinetics on roofing and façade tiles: Influence of physical parameters

•A liquid film of water was a main condition to induce algal growth.•The roughness should be the most significant parameters in order to retain algae.•In saturated conditions, the porosity boosts colonization by playing a role of water supply.•The surface chemistry that could be considered as a seco...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Construction & building materials 2013-11, Vol.48, p.670-676
Main Authors: Giovannacci, D., Leclaire, C., Horgnies, M., Ellmer, M., Mertz, J.D., Orial, G., Chen, J., Bousta, F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accelerated test
Aesthetic
Algae
Analysis
Building materials
Calcite crystals
Concrete
Construction materials
Green algae
Kinetics of colonization
Porosity
Properties
Roofing
Roughness
Settlements
Tiles
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Summary:•A liquid film of water was a main condition to induce algal growth.•The roughness should be the most significant parameters in order to retain algae.•In saturated conditions, the porosity boosts colonization by playing a role of water supply.•The surface chemistry that could be considered as a second order parameter. Algal growth is responsible for aesthetic defects on roofing tiles. Accelerated water-streaming tests were done on different building materials. The results establish the ranges of porosity and roughness that can initiate the colonization under humid saturation. A smooth surface is then recommended to reduce the settlement. Experiments done on limestone and clay tiles demonstrate that coupling high porosity and rough surface should be banished to avoid any rapid algal colonization. However, the alkaline composition of concrete tiles can strongly affect the algal settlement, whatever their intrinsic porosity and roughness. Observations by Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy show that calcite crystals could promote the settlement of algae on the surface.
ISSN:0950-0618
DOI:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.07.034