Influence of the Microstructure of Ferrous Metals on the Rate of Microbial Corrosion

Abstract

The effect of semi-continuous cultures of a hydrogenase-positive sulphate-reducing bacterium on the corrosion of specimens of cast iron and five different steels has been studied. In a minimal-iron nutrient medium there was a linear relationship between the weight loss of the steel specimens and their carbon contents. In an iron-rich medium the cast iron and steel specimens corroded at the same rate, whereas in the minimal-iron medium the cast iron corroded faster than the steel specimens.