Geothermal corrosion

Thermal vents, hot springs and other features in geothermal areas can release sulphur-containing gases such as hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) into the environment. These gases can be aggressive towards susceptible building and construction materials.

This BRANZ Research Now series looks at field trials conducted in Rotorua to examine how different building materials corrode and deteriorate in geothermal environments. Identical samples were also exposed to a marine environment for comparison.