EVALUATION OF THE BIODETERIORATION PROCESS OF A COFFERED CEILING FROM AN HISTORICAL BUILDING

摘要

Fungi are the chief cause of biodeterioration of wood. The body of a fungus is composed of tubelike conductive strands called hyphae. The hyphae secrete enzymes which hydrolyse the complex polymer components of wood, cellulose and/or lignin, and convert them to monomers which are then metabolised by the fungi to produce energy for growth and reproduction. Both the development and the spread of wood-inhabiting fungi require food, air, moisture and warmth. Moisture is most important in the development of fungi and in combination with air, governs the extent of decay in wood (1). Four samples of wood, which represent different stages on the deterioration of a coffered ceiling from an historical building of Palma de Mallorca (Spain) were considered. The aim of this paper was to study the qualitative and quantitative evolution of the products found and/or formed during the decay process.