Interactions Materials - Microorganisms

This multidisciplinary book is the result of a collective work synthesizing
presentations made by various specialists during the CNRS «BIODEMAT» school,
which took place in October 2014 in La Rochelle (France). It is designed for
readers of a range of scienti?c specialties (chemistry, biology, physics,
etc.) and examines various industrial problems (e.g., water, sewerage and
maintaining building materials). Metallic, cementitious, polymeric and
composite materials age depending on their service and operational
environments. In such cases, the presence of microorganisms can lead to
biodeterioration. However, microorganisms can also help protect structures,
provided their immense possibilities are mastered and put to good use. This
book is divided into ?ve themes related to biocolonization, material
biodeterioration, and potential improvements to such materials resulting in
better performance levels with respect to biodeterioration: • physical
chemistry of surfaces; • bio?lm implication in biodeterioration; •
biocorrosion of metallic materials; • biodeterioration of non-metallic
materials; • design and modi?cation of materials. The afiliations of the
authors of the various chapters illustrate the synergy between academic
research and its transfer to industry. This demonstrates the essential
interaction between the various actors in this complex ?eld: analysing,
understanding, and responding to the scientic issues related to
biodeterioration.