CORROSION OF STAINLESS-STEEL BY SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA - TOTAL IMMERSION TEST-RESULTS

Total immersion testing of a range of stainless alloys and a mild steel in cultures of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) was conducted. A study of corroded samples under the scanning electron microscope (SEM) indicated that corrosion manifested itself both as pitting and intergranular attack. AISI 304L stainless steel and to a lesser extent, AISI 316L SS was susceptible to corrosion in the presence of SRB. A distinctive etched and shiny surface was produced on mild steel by the SRB. Those results agree with the results reported for accelerated electrochemical tests.