Corrosion and biofilm

Abstract

This chapter provides a review of how biofilm relates to corrosion. First of all, it presents corrosion as an electrochemical process. Then, the corrosion phenomenon is described from the viewpoint of electrochemistry. Next, microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is discussed and related to biofilm. The process of biofilm formation is explained schematically and some concrete examples are provided. Finally, a mechanism is introduced for the correlation of biofilm and corrosion. In fact, biofilm is the key factor to differentiate MIC from the usual form of corrosion.