Biofilm on Materials` Surfaces in Marine Environments

Biofilm is inhomogeneous, thin film-like matter formed on materials’ surfaces. It is actually a hydrogel and composed of water (about 80% depending on the formation stages), external polysaccharides (EPS) and bacteria themselves. When materials are immersed into marine environments, biofilms form by bacterial activity. However, the process contains many steps. The formation and growth capability of biofilms are determined by the combination of environmental factors (bacteria, biota, temperatures, etc.) and materials. In this chapter, the authors describe the general biofilm formation process and discuss how various materials affect biofilm formation and growth.

Keywords: Biofilms, EPS, Bacteria, Metals, Ceramics, Polymers, Hydrophilicity, Hydrophobicity, Water repellency, Van der Waals forces, Electric double layer, Zeta potential.