MICROBIAL CORROSION OF MILD AND MEDIUM CARBON STEELS

The role of bacteria in the corrosion of mild and medium carbon steels is reported. The steels were exposed to anaerobic and aerobic, and fresh water (control) environments. The corrosion rates were evaluated at intervals of seven days for a period of 42 days using weight loss and electrochemical methods. The corroded specimens were visually examined and majorities were found to have undergone general corrosion in the three environments (aerobic, anaerobic, and fresh water). The mild steel was found to corrode more than the medium carbon steel in anaerobic environment-mild steel: 6.43×10-4 mpy and -0.93 mV, due to limited available oxygen whilst it had -0.89 mV in aerobic and -0.77 mV in the fresh water. The medium carbon steel had -5.30×10-4 mpy and -0.91 mV in anaerobic: -0.84mV in aerobic and -0.74mV in freshwater.