Microorganisms in Red Ceramic Building Materials—A Review

Abstract

Ceramic materials have a very long tradition of use in construction. Their durability is related to the surface of the material and the action of the corrosive environment. One of the corrosive factors acting on ceramic materials is microorganisms. They can contribute to the deterioration of the technical and performance properties of building materials. Aesthetic, physical, and chemical deterioration are considered to be the main destructive processes in ceramic materials. This work shows how the different types of the most commonly used ceramic materials, i.e., brick and tiles, are damaged. Each of these types is susceptible to microbial growth. Most microorganisms that occur on ceramic materials produce staining substances and thus form coloured biofilms. The direct action of metabolic products secreted by organisms on inorganic substrates is the main cause of chemical biodeterioration. Therefore, this work presents the impact of microorganisms on ceramic building materials.