ASTM International, formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), is an internationally recognized organization that develops and publishes product and testing standards. ASTM G21 is a qualitative test method designed to assess the ability of synthetic materials to resist fungal attack. The method is typically conducted over a 28-day period where treated materials are inoculated with a pooled suspension of fungal spores, incubated, then compared to untreated controls at intervals. The untreated controls serve as references for fungal resistance. A diverse array of fungal species are used in this method, so it is considered to be a good indicator of fungal resistance in a variety of environments.
This fungi is a conidiophore, or a sexual spore generating aerobic fungus. A. brasiliensis, formerly listed as a strain of A. niger, is related to other Aspergillus species in that they produce spores highly resistant to chemical and environmental conditions. A. brasiliensis is commonly used as a benchmark fungus for antimicrobial fungicides and preservatives used in pharmaceutical and personal care products.
This fungi is a faculative tonophile, meaning it can survive and grow in extreme conditions, such as arid or high pH environments. Growth in these conditions is uncharacteristic of other mold fungi. This species is known to utilize molecular components from several materials as a food source, namely cotton and paper products. T. pinophilus, formerly listed as a strain of Penicillium funiculosum, is associated with rotting fruit and seeds, and is commonly used in fungus resistance of articles.
This fungi is a saprotrophic species that is normally found in soil, air, and plant debris. C. globosum thrives in cellulose rich areas, including seeds, textiles, straw, and sacking. Typically prevalent in homes with water damaged areas, C. globosum is one of the more prevalent fungi encountered in household environments. This prevalence makes C. globosum a commonly used model for fungus resistance testing.
This fungi is a ubiquitous saprotroph, meaning it can be found in a multitude of environments and process nutrients by extracellular digestion of dead or decayed organic matter. A. pullulans has been known to cause pneumonitis (humidifier lung) over extended periods of exposure. This fungi is often employed in fungal resistance testing due to it’s ability to prevail in numerous environments and to metabolize organic matter.
This fungi is typically prevalent in soil and decayed wood. T. virens is often used in the agriculture industry as it is beneficial to crop production and plant metabolism because of its ability to produce antibiotics and parasitize other fungi. Due to its widely accepted use, it is a recommended microorganism for fungi resistance testing of adhesives and lumber.
No further modifications were made to the method for this study.
No additional notes were made for this study.
Neutralizer: N/A
Growth Confirmation: Pure
Media Sterility: Sterile
No calculations are made for this study.
Observations of growth on test substances is rated by the method according to the following system:
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