Analyzing to have a better understanding of corrosion problems
Corrosion and biocorrosion analyses: from the first sign of material failures due to corrosion, ask for analyses in order to observe the phenomenon involved. They will give you a precious help to identify the cause of corrosion problem.
Metallographic, microbiological or physicochemical, these analyses will allow you to evaluate the level of corrosion, to detect or not corrosive bacteria, etc.
Metallographic analyses
Analysis of metallic materials at low and high magnification
Objective
- Determine the quality of the materials
- Establish a degradation profile
Analyses
- Characterization of the material
metallurgical quality control of metallic material (microstructure, hardness, grain size, inclusion cleanliness, ferrite content …) - Measuring the thickness of a metal or organic coating
- Uniform degradation
Electrochemical monitoring – Gravimetric monitoring - Localized degradation
Morphology and degradation profile, measuring depths of attacks, estimate the density of degradations
Microbiological analyses
Essential to identify corrosion cases due to bacteria
Objective
Looking for bacteria involved in the case of corrosion, number, structure, density, etc.
- Identification and quantification of bacteria
Analyses
- Microorganisms distribution on the surface of the material
- Morphology
- Diversity
- Research and measurability of microorganisms
Equipment and technic used
Epifluorescence microscopy, microscopy
Cultivable method (use of culture medium), Molecular biology (qPCR, pyrosequencing…)
Enzymatic method.
Physico-chemical analyses
Having a better understanding of the environment around the material
Objective
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Identification on corrosion products and/or organisms
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Measuring the influence of cathodic protection on marine environment
Analyses
- Dissolved oxygen, pH, redox potential, conductivity, T°C
Electrodes, probes - Quantification of species
ICP-AES, SAA - Quantification of sulfides
Internal method - Quantification of nutrients
COT, sulfides, nitrates