Observations of Scytonema-colonized and
non-colonized fiber cement roofing shingles.
EMSL Project ID
4996
Abstract
Fiber cement roofing shingles colonized with Scytonema sp. and other cyanobacteria are failing. One mechanism proposed to explain the observed deterioration is the breakdown of the cementicious portion of the shingle due to expansion and contraction from hydration and dehydration of the mucilaginous sheath of the Scytonema sp. filaments that have penetrated the shingles. Observation and documentation of the hydration/dehydration process of these samples with the environmental scanning electron microscope will provide greater understanding of the deterioration process.
Project Details
Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
2003-10-07
End Date
2005-10-27
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator