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Artificial Reef
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Artificial coral reefs
created by
BIOROCK®
MARINE CONSTRUCTION
APPLICATIONS
Environmentally friendly, reliable, proven successful.
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BRIEF OUTLINE OF BIOROCK®
MARINE CONSTRUCTION APPLICATIONS
Thomas J. Goreau, PhD
(Harvard)
& Ocean Caraibes
BASIC
PRINCIPLES
The
Biorock® method, invented, developed, and patented by the
late Prof. Wolf HIlbertz and Dr. Thomas J. Goreau, uses low
voltage direct currents (above 1.2 Volts) to grow solid
limestone minerals on conductive substrates. The minerals
grown are naturally present in large amounts in seawater,
but will not crystallize out by themselves.
The
electrical current used is safe to humans and all marine
organisms, all of which are seen to be attracted, and none
repelled. The low current also completely prevents rusting
of steel substrates, indeed it reverses any rusting that had
previously occurred. The strength of Biorock materials is an
inverse function of growth rate, but is typically around 3
times the compressive strength of ordinary Portland cement
concrete if grown at less than 1-2 centimeters per year.
Biorock
construction materials are the only known marine
construction materials that are growing, get constantly
stronger with age (while all others deteriorate), and are
unique in being self-repairing, since any physically damaged
areas grow back preferentially. There is no limit in
principle to the size or shape of Biorock structures, they
could be grown hundreds of miles long if funding allowed. |
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Protection of Steel Pilings and other Structures Against
Rusting
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As toxic chemicals used to protect wood pilings
against marine boring organisms are being banned,
construction managers are increasingly relying on
steel pilings for marine related projects. However,
steel pilings rust and eventually collapse, causing
pilings and piers to be periodically rebuilt at
great cost. The Biorock process reverses rusting
on steel pilings, turning red iron
oxide (“rust”) back into iron, and then coating it
in a protective limestone rock coating that attracts
oysters, mussels, corals, fish, and crabs, turning
it into productive habitat. Using Biorock steel
pilings can be preserved, eliminating the need for
costly replacement. |
The Biorock process
reverses rusting
on steel pilings. |
Repair and Strengthening of...
Reinforced Concrete Piers - Docks -
Breakwaters - Seawalls - Wharves
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Reinforced concrete quickly deteriorates in the
marine environment as the internal steel reinforcing
bars rust and expands, cracking off the concrete,
with the structures eventually crumbling and
collapsing. Using Biorock, the rusting is reversed,
and all cracks in the concrete are filled in with
hard limestone rock.
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The
electrical current used, which
stimulates the growth of the solid
limestone minerals, is safe to humans
and all marine organisms. |
Marine concrete structures can therefore maintain
their strength, and the cost of rebuilding them
eliminated. Structures built of rock armor or
concrete tetrapods move in heavy wave action,
falling apart and needing to be rebuilt. Biorock can
armor such structures, cementing the rocks and
tetrapods in place, eliminating the need for costly
rebuilding.
Our patented method will protect the large
investment you have in steel pilings from rusting
and enable us to make in situ repairs
and strengthen concrete structures at a minimum
cost. |
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