Environment Biocorrosion

Microbiologically influenced corrosion affects all materials. BAM's research is interdisciplinary and embedded in a global network.

Source: BAM

Better protection for materials

Biocorrosion describes the alteration of materials caused by living organisms. They often lead to damage and therefore have considerable consequences for people, technology, and the environment.

We focus our activities on research into microbially influenced corrosion (MIC). Numerous energy supply systems such as wind turbines, pipelines for gases and fuels, storage facilities (e.g., for hydrogen), but also important infrastructures such as ports, water and wastewater systems can be affected by MIC.

Despite intensive efforts, no effective protection against MIC is known to date. The latest findings suggest that the damage will increase significantly because of global warming.

In BAM's modular HI-Tension environmental simulation laboratory, we investigate the interaction of microorganisms with a wide variety of materials. We clarify fundamental mechanisms, develop countermeasures and corresponding test methods, and validate them for inclusion in international standardization committees. In doing so, we can draw on many years of expertise, BAM's outstanding laboratory equipment and research infrastructure as well as a broad network with academia and industry.

With its consistent interdisciplinary research into the topic, BAM is an ideal research partner for jointly developing effective strategies against biocorrosion.

Our services and competences in the field of biocorrosion

Our expertise includes:

Basic research to elucidate the mechanisms of MIC
Simulation and further development of natural processes on a laboratory scale
Development of modelling and predictive models
Analysis of corrosion products
Investigation of MIC in caverns for hydrogen storage and in nuclear waste repositories
Analysis of MIC in additive manufacturing
Recording of important environmental parameters (temperature, pH value, oxygen, sulphide/sulphate content, gas composition etc.) by means of special sensor technology
Multi-element single-cell analytics
Fluorescence microscopy, e.g. confocal laser scanning microscopy or epifluorescence microscopy
Participation in international standardisation and norming