Abstract
It is known that microorganisms can have a damaging effect and induce microbially influenced corrosion. The majority of bacteria grow in enclosed biofilms attached to surfaces. We studied different biofilms grown on four steels grades in the same bio-environmental conditions in order to evaluate their action on the different materials. The study of biofilm composition formed on common steels immerged in a natural potable water has been made with electron microscopic techniques coupled with different X-ray analysis. The results allowed us to propose schematic models of biofilms formed on a carbon steel (grade 1038) and three stainless steels grades (304, 304L, 316L). We developed a preparation technique of embedding corroded test coupons in plastic preventing any loss of information regarding to the biological composition of the biofilm on carbon steel. Components present in the biofilms were observed by TEM and identified by EDX and SAED analysis. The relations between identified products near bacteria and metabolic activity of the microorganisms have been studied in order to determine the contribution of living organisms in the corrosion.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This work was realized in the frame of COST 520 action “Biofouling and Materials.”