1 year already!

It’s been a year since the MICOATEC project was launched. ¼ of the time devoted to the project has now expired. On that occasion, the partners met last week in Toulouse (half face-to-face & half remote) for a consortium meeting.
An intense day to review together the results and to prepare the next immersion campaign which will take place in May.
Let’s take a look at the highlights of the day.

Feedback on the first immersion campaign

As a reminder, the first immersion of the aluminum alloy samples began in September 2020 in Genoa, Italy. Subsequently, samples were removed from the water after 15, 30 and 60 days of immersion.
When they came out of the water, the samples were then analyzed by the project teams, this is called the sample characterization step. Several methods have been used, such as electrochemistry or even microscopy and surface analysis techniques

Shadow and light, results that vary significantly depending on the exposure

Among the results that we can observe, the first immersion campaign has made possible to highlight the influence of light on the species that colonize the plates, which consequently demonstrate to have a key role in the surface modifications observed. 

A very positive assessment at M + 12

Despite the health crisis which did not facilitate access to laboratories and equipment, the project was not delayed and the teams are showing greater commitment than ever. Some analysis should even take place earlier than planned. So far, the results obtained are consistent with each other.

Get organized for the next 6 months

These consortium meetings are also an opportunity for the partners to organize themselves for the coming months. A new roadmap has been established for the next 6 months. The program includes the continued characterization of samples from the first immersion campaign, replication tests in an abiotic environment, the characterization with industrial tests, not forgetting the next second immersion campaign which will take place from May.