Amid the rolling plains of southeast Texas, the Texas A&M University National Corrosion and Materials Reliability Lab is advancing materials science in ways that directly benefit industry.
Housed in an innovative, modern facility, the lab’s work is reshaping corrosion control and material reliability across sectors like oil and gas, energy, transportation, and infrastructure.
Under the direction of Homero Castaneda Lopez, Ph.D., the laboratory reflects the university’s long-standing commitment to real-world research in materials science.
“What distinguishes us is our ability to not only conduct fundamental research but also apply that knowledge in real-world settings,” says Castaneda, who has led the lab since 2015. “Our mission is to bridge the gap between science and engineering.”
The lab offers students and professionals the opportunity to work on projects that deliver practical results. The 4,000-plus-square-foot lab is distinct in its ability to work on multiple scales—from nanoscale experiments to large-scale structures such as pipelines, and from fundamental science to applied engineering.
Students gain valuable hands-on experience, with many transitioning into industry roles or even starting their own companies based on innovations developed during their time there. The lab’s integration with Texas A&M’s resources, as well as partnerships with external institutions and companies, provides a well-rounded, real-world experience for students and contributes significantly to industry solutions.
Early Days
The school’s original corrosion laboratory was located on its main campus in College Station, Texas, USA. Today’s expanded facility is in nearby Bryan, Texas, on the Texas A&M RELLIS campus—named for the university’s values of respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity, and selfless service.
The university initially created the lab with the Department of Energy and its assets in mind. It has since expanded its focus to include industries like oil and gas, energy, transportation, and infrastructure, among others.
The lab was created to support both academic research and industry partnerships, aiming to tackle the practical challenges posed by corrosion in various sectors.
Growth in Size and Scope
The move to the RELLIS campus allowed the corrosion lab to expand its capabilities, leveraging the state-of-the-art infrastructure and collaborative environment that the new campus provided. Since its relocation, the corrosion lab has grown in both size and scope.
The facility now includes advanced testing and analysis equipment, such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and other tools critical for modern corrosion research. The lab’s research focuses on developing new materials, coatings, and corrosion mitigation techniques, with an emphasis on real-world applications.
The lab also collaborates extensively with industry partners, government agencies, and other academic institutions. These partnerships have led to significant advancements in corrosion-resistant materials and coatings, contributing to longer-lasting infrastructure, safer transportation, and more durable consumer products.
“Combining basic research with an applied component will provide more robust, more sustainable, more durable solutions,” Castaneda says. “It’s not just about producing publications—although they are important—but about the practical impact of those publications and the solutions they generate.”
Education and Training
In addition to research, the corrosion lab at the RELLIS Campus plays a crucial role in educating the next generation of corrosion engineers. It provides hands-on training for undergraduate and graduate students, who gain experience working with cutting-edge technologies and conducting research that has direct industry applications.
“We’re committed to preparing students to succeed in the real world,” Castaneda says. “I’ve worked in academia, national labs, and industry, so I understand the different approaches each sector takes. Here, students get exposure to all these perspectives, giving them a well-rounded education in corrosion science and engineering."
As for significant projects, the lab has contributed to several breakthroughs.
He mentions working with the government and industry on pipeline projects. He also points to a former student who developed intellectual property during his thesis, which led him to start his own company providing services to the industry.
“That’s a great success story—not just for him but for the impact it’s had on the field,” Castaneda says.
Castaneda emphasizes that corrosion, while an ongoing challenge, offers endless opportunities for control and mitigation, ensuring long-term career prospects in the field. He also highlights that the true measure of success is the meaningful impact on students, industries, and society at large. He expects the lab’s use of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, to play a crucial role in shaping the future of corrosion research.
“Collaboration is key,” Castaneda says. “We work with other departments at A&M and with institutions across the United States and globally. These partnerships expose us to different approaches and perspectives, which strengthens our research.”
Lab Capabilities
- Atmospheric corrosion
- 2 Fog chamber LF 8151 QS Model test chambers, which can be instrumented for electrochemical evaluation
- Advanced surface electrochemistry characterization
- Scanning Kelvin Probe
- Scanning Vibrating Electrode Technique
- Localized Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy
- Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy
- Benchtop scanning electron microscope JCM 600 Plus Model
- Inverted metallurgical microscope equipped with a camera Eclipse MA 100 Model
- Macroscope equipped with a camera SMZ 745T Model
- Upright metallurgical microscope equipped with a camera
- Coating system evaluation and testing laboratory
- Gamry Reference 600 potentiostats
- Gamry 600+ potentiostats
- Faraday cages (custom made)
- Suitable coating testing cells (Gamry model)
- Cortest type proof rings adapted for electrochemical testing
- Miniflow loop (10 lt/min) with tests cells adapted for electrochemical and MIC evaluation
- General corrosion severity evaluation
- Pine rotating disk/cylinder electrodes systems (Bi-potentiostat control)
- Thermostatic control equipment and three electrode cells of different custom configurations
- Extreme service conditions materials selection laboratory
- Cortest Autoclave with 5 lt capacity, made with Hastelloy C-2000, rated at 6,000 psia and 350 °F, this autoclave can operate as exposure weight loss or electrochemical testing configuration
- Cortest electrochemical Autoclave system, with 1 lt capacity and with 3 electrode probes, rating 3,000 psia at 600 °F, vessel made from Hastelloy C-2000
- CERT frames capable up to 10.000-pound force, instrumented to perform slow strain rate, constant load and ripple testing following applicable standards
- CERT high pressure testing frame equipped with a C-2000, 1 lt capacity autoclave designed for electrochemical testing and pressure rings to support a tensile test. This frame can also perform slow strain rate, constant load and ripple load testing
- Gamry 600+ and Interface 1000 potentiostats, and ancillary equipment to develop electrochemical testing at room conditions with thermal control. The tests can be performed with H2S/CO2 simulating sour environments
- Hydrogen permeation electrochemical cells (Devanathan-Starchuski type) for study of hydrogen diffusivity at room conditions following ASTM G148 or under CO2/H2S conditions simulating sour environments.
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the March 2025 print issue of Materials Performance (MP) Magazine. Reprinted with permission.
