Corrosion of antibacterial Cu-bearing 316L stainless steels in the presence of sulfate reducing bacteria

•Both Cu-bearing stainless steels (SS) are more resistant to corrosion than 316L SS in the absence of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB).•Both Cu-bearing SS have worse corrosion resistance than 316L SS in the presence of SRB.•The addition of Cu does not improve the resistance of 316L SS to SRB corrosion.•Trace amounts of elements La and Ce is helpful to improve the corrosion resistance of SS. Corrosion of two types of antibacterial Cu-bearing 316L stainless steel was investigated in a medium containing sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) by various surface characterization and electrochemical measurements. The addition of Cu does not improve the resistance of 316L stainless steel to microbiologically influenced corrosion. The anticorrosion performance of 316L-Cu-A is better than 316L-Cu-B, which is believed to be associated with the addition of elements La and Ce, rather than Cu, in the steel. The Cu ions react with sulfides produced by SRB to produce copper sulfide on the steel surface, increasing corrosion of the Cu-bearing stainless steels.