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Microbiological degradation of materials—and methods of protection
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Materials Science and Engineering, A190 (1995) 275
A
Book Review
Microbiological Degradation of Materials--and Methods of Protection published by The Institute of Metals, 1992, Book Number 516, ISBN 0-901716-02-2. This volume, the ninth in a series of European Federation of Corrosion Publications, is the first of the series to omit the term corrosion from its title. The change reflects the coverage of materials other than metals and the broadening of phenomenological scope that such coverage dictates. In fact, those interested in the corrosive potential of the products of microbiological lifeforms but lacking a background in the life sciences are the target audience of this publication. Following a brief introductory chapter the volume begins properly with an excellent introduction to microbiological fundamentals for the non-life scientist. The treatment is compact, concise and effective, as evidenced by the ease with which this non-biologist was able to absorb the remainder of the material. The corrosionist is further comforted by the fact that this information is blended with more familiar material, such as the Pourbaix Diagram. This chapter also introduces the biofilm, which is, perhaps, the most important concept presented. The presence of a biologically active layer of material on virtually every surface in nature is not difficult to imagine, but its implication on surface-environmental interactions is missing from classical corrosion models. This concept alone and its implication on "real world" systems make the volume worth reading. At the heart of the volume is a chapter titled Microbiologically Influenced Deterioration of Materials. This chapter separates the topic, by material type, into the following sections: Ceramic materials, Metallic materials, Organic materials of natural origin, Organic materials--Plastics, rubbers, Packing and gasket materials, and Auxiliary materials (adhesives, mineral oil and hydrocarbons). Each of these sections provides a short introduction on the characteristics of the material covered for the non-material scientist. At the end of each of the above sections, and of particular interest to researchers interested in working
0921-5093/95/$9.50 © 1995 - Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved SSDI 0921-5093(94)00000-0
in this field, are subsections headed Need for R&D. Here the authors outline specific topics in demand of investigation. The concluding chapter of the volume contains a summary of this material. There follows a brief chapter on the protection of materials from microbiological degradation. The brevity of this chapter speaks volumes for the opportunity that this field affords the researcher interested in investigating protective schemes and lack of competition that will greet products introduced to this field. For those interested in any emerging field the bibliography sections of a new publication is perhaps the most important feature and this volume does not disappoint. One should be cautioned, however, that the references cover a wide range of disciplines and to take full advantage of this material requires an eclectic curiosity. This comment serves to underline the multidisciplinary nature of the subject and challenge that has left much of this field unexplored. Possibly of more concern to the non-German speaking reader is the fact that the great majority of the references are in the German language. In closing it must be noted that Microbiological
Degradation of Materials--and Methods of Protection uses only 88 pages to cover this rather large subject. It is therefore not surprising that the authors paint with a broad brush and that much of the material is not covered in depth. For example, Chapter 3, Detection and Identification of Microorganisms, covers only four pages, including references. On the other hand, the volume is effective at illustrating the microbiological source of some material degradation phenomena. The work offers an important resource for the educator in a position to influence the viewpoint of students early in their studies. For success in this most multidisciplinary field will require early concentration in both life sciences and material science courses of study. Howard Gabel
Innovative Technology, Inc. PO Box 2005 Cupertino, CA 95015 USA
Materials Science and Engineering, A190 (1995) 275
A
Book Review
Microbiological Degradation of Materials--and Methods of Protection published by The Institute of Metals, 1992, Book Number 516, ISBN 0-901716-02-2. This volume, the ninth in a series of European Federation of Corrosion Publications, is the first of the series to omit the term corrosion from its title. The change reflects the coverage of materials other than metals and the broadening of phenomenological scope that such coverage dictates. In fact, those interested in the corrosive potential of the products of microbiological lifeforms but lacking a background in the life sciences are the target audience of this publication. Following a brief introductory chapter the volume begins properly with an excellent introduction to microbiological fundamentals for the non-life scientist. The treatment is compact, concise and effective, as evidenced by the ease with which this non-biologist was able to absorb the remainder of the material. The corrosionist is further comforted by the fact that this information is blended with more familiar material, such as the Pourbaix Diagram. This chapter also introduces the biofilm, which is, perhaps, the most important concept presented. The presence of a biologically active layer of material on virtually every surface in nature is not difficult to imagine, but its implication on surface-environmental interactions is missing from classical corrosion models. This concept alone and its implication on "real world" systems make the volume worth reading. At the heart of the volume is a chapter titled Microbiologically Influenced Deterioration of Materials. This chapter separates the topic, by material type, into the following sections: Ceramic materials, Metallic materials, Organic materials of natural origin, Organic materials--Plastics, rubbers, Packing and gasket materials, and Auxiliary materials (adhesives, mineral oil and hydrocarbons). Each of these sections provides a short introduction on the characteristics of the material covered for the non-material scientist. At the end of each of the above sections, and of particular interest to researchers interested in working
0921-5093/95/$9.50 © 1995 - Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved SSDI 0921-5093(94)00000-0
in this field, are subsections headed Need for R&D. Here the authors outline specific topics in demand of investigation. The concluding chapter of the volume contains a summary of this material. There follows a brief chapter on the protection of materials from microbiological degradation. The brevity of this chapter speaks volumes for the opportunity that this field affords the researcher interested in investigating protective schemes and lack of competition that will greet products introduced to this field. For those interested in any emerging field the bibliography sections of a new publication is perhaps the most important feature and this volume does not disappoint. One should be cautioned, however, that the references cover a wide range of disciplines and to take full advantage of this material requires an eclectic curiosity. This comment serves to underline the multidisciplinary nature of the subject and challenge that has left much of this field unexplored. Possibly of more concern to the non-German speaking reader is the fact that the great majority of the references are in the German language. In closing it must be noted that Microbiological
Degradation of Materials--and Methods of Protection uses only 88 pages to cover this rather large subject. It is therefore not surprising that the authors paint with a broad brush and that much of the material is not covered in depth. For example, Chapter 3, Detection and Identification of Microorganisms, covers only four pages, including references. On the other hand, the volume is effective at illustrating the microbiological source of some material degradation phenomena. The work offers an important resource for the educator in a position to influence the viewpoint of students early in their studies. For success in this most multidisciplinary field will require early concentration in both life sciences and material science courses of study. Howard Gabel
Innovative Technology, Inc. PO Box 2005 Cupertino, CA 95015 USA