Abstract
A critical review of the technical literature concerned with monitoring techniques for the study of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is presented. MIC involves the initiation or acceleration of corrosion by microorganisms. The metabolic products of microorganisms appear to affect most engineering materials, but the more commonly used corrosion resistant alloys such as stainless steels seem to be particularly susceptible. The monitoring techniques covered in this review include measurements of electrochemical properties, measurements of physical metal loss, and enumeration of sessile organisms. This paper discusses the procedures, as well as advantages and disadvantages of each technique for the study of MIC. Applications range from studies of general and localized corrosion, pressure drop and heat transfer resistance to the investigation of the formation of biofilms on stainless steel weldments in freshwater as well as in seawater. In order to adequately address MIC problems, interdisciplinary cooperation of specialists in microbiology, metallurgy, corrosion and water chemistry is required. Similarly, the complexities of MIC are such that one technique generally can not provide all the answers in terms of corrosion mechanisms, however, monitoring tools may assist in avoiding costly corrosion failures.
