Development of an experimental laboratory method to study biofouling process on cool surfaces

Cool materials play a crucial role in enhancing building energy efficiency but are susceptible to various forms of deterioration, including biological growth. In addition to weathering factors like atmospheric pollution and temperature fluctuations, organisms can lead to both aesthetic and functional changes by forming biofilms on surfaces. The currently available standard protocol for accelerating the aging process on surfaces, ASTM D7897, does not consistently replicate the contribution of biological factors to surface fouling. Consequently, a novel laboratory procedure has been developed to systematically induce biological colonization on building materials, allowing for the reliable measurement of thermal-physical property loss. This knowledge is of paramount importance for enhancing product performance in both scientific and industrial applications. This article outlines an experimental procedure designed to assess the impact of biocolonization on cool materials. Furthermore, the study involves the application of a bioageing procedure in conjunction with the soiling procedure specified in ASTM D7897. This combined approach aims to simulate the complete deterioration process of cool materials, encompassing the deposition of atmospheric black carbon, dust, organic or inorganic particulate matter, and the growth of microscopic organisms. The consistently low coefficient of variation observed in the repeated measurements of solar reflectance and colonization rates on samples, falling below the 10% threshold, supports the consideration of this procedure as an enhancement of the accelerated aging protocol for studying material surfaces.