Influence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria on corrosion resistance of 304 stainless steel

Abstract

Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is a corrosion phenomenon that is destructive to many industries. This research aims to investigate on the MIC behaviour of a 304 stainless steel (SS) substrate in a nutrient rich simulated seawater inoculated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. Atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) techniques were used to analyse MIC behaviour of 304 SS. Atomic force microscopy was used to observe the degree of pitting corrosion on 304 SS due to the presence of P. aeruginosa bacteria. Scanning electron microscopy and EDS were used to analyse the biofilm layer formed on 304 SS. The considerable feature was the severe pitting corrosion of 304 SS due to presence of P. aeruginosa in biofilm state.