skalbildning

Skalbildning is a Swedish term that can refer to the formation of shells in biology as well as the deposition of mineral scale on surfaces in industrial settings. In biology and paleontology, skalbildning describes biomineralization whereby organisms construct hard outer coverings—most notably shells of mollusks and the exoskeletons of some crustaceans and brachiopods. The shell is usually composed of calcium carbonate (calcite or aragonite) and an organic matrix produced by specialized cells in the mantle. Shell formation is regulated genetically and environmentally, with factors such as ion availability, pH, and temperature influencing growth rate, thickness, and shell microstructure. Shells provide protection, support, and camouflage, and their structure records environmental conditions, useful in paleoclimate studies.

In a technical sense, skalbildning also refers to the common problem of "scale formation" on equipment and piping when water carries dissolved minerals that precipitate under heating or changes in pressure. Calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, and silica scales are typical examples. Scale buildup reduces heat transfer efficiency, increases energy use, and can promote corrosion. Control strategies include water softening, acidification, antiscalant chemicals, periodic mechanical cleaning, and process modifications to reduce supersaturation.

The term thus covers both natural biomineralization processes and anthropogenic mineral deposition, illustrating how mineral materials arise in living systems and in industrial environments.