BIOCORROSION PERFORMANCE OF STAINLESS STEEL AND MILD STEEL

IN MARINE ENVIRONMENT

ABSTRACT

Biocorrosion occurs as microorganism starting to attach on metal, colonize and form a

biofilm layer. In short period of time, metal with low corrosion resistant will start to
corrode and deposit metal deposition. Hence, this study was performed to investigate the
biocorrosion behaviour of Stainless steel 316L (SS 316L) and mild steel coupons upon
immersion in medium 3.5% NaCl and natural seawater for 60 days according to standard
ASTM G31-2004. The selected steel substrates were also subject to biocorrosion test in
agar media containing sub-cultured Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) and Escherichia
coli (E.coli) for 7 consecutive days. The observations from SEM analysis revealed that
both SS 316L and mild steel experienced pitting corrosion after immersion in all tested
media. Mild steel generally tends to corrode more rapidly compared to SS316 L. The
highest corrosion rate (1.34 mm/yr) was recorded on mild steel immersed in natural
seawater for 60 days due to influence of naturally occurring bacteria in seawater. The
presence of E.coli has induced more corrosion on mild steel approximately 3.63% weight
loss rather than S.aureus while E.coli has accelerates weight loss 2.83% on SS 316L
rather than S.aureus.