ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Weathering steel is a widely used material for works exposed outdoors due to its corrosion resistance. This resistance is achieved through the development of the socalled protective rust layer. This layer is composed by several iron oxides and oxyhydroxides which act as a barrier against the corrosion. Several studies have been performed about the consequences that the presence of marine airborne and acid gases can have in the development of the protective rust layer and therefore, in the durability of the material. However, the consequences of the biological activity have been never reported before. In this work, a noninvasive study has been developed in order to assess the role of calcium oxalates in weathering steel surfaces and to define their formation pathway in the studied structures. In this way, it has been checked that these oxalates could be having negative effects in the conservation of the material.
