Microbiologically influenced tribocorrosion in marine conditions

MINTCANDI project, mainly conducted at VTT, studies the degradation of materials due to several kinds of simultaneous exposures: mechanical, chemical and biological. Mooring chains in marine environments are an example of this, undergoing mechanical loading in saline waters with marine microorganisms. We will study the complex phenomena through series of laboratory and field tests. The investigation of the samples will be done by materials characterisation methods (materials structure and chemistry on the surface and below), bioimaging (visualisation of microorganisms across the surface) and microbiology (which microbial groups are meaningful). Through the increased understanding related to degradation through multiple types of exposures, the reliability of assessments made in simpler environments in relation to real can be viewed. This novel research will also act as an opening as a scientific, systemic approach to tackle and understand complex degradation mechanisms.