Mineralogical data, thermodynamic stability (Pourbaix) diagrams and the simplexity principle for precipitation reactions are used to rationalize corrosion product mineralogy in a variety of situations involving both fresh and saline water and to demonstrate the action of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) in these cases. Methods for using corrosion product mineralogy as a diagnostic tool for microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) are discussed. Many sulfides under near-surface natural environmental conditions can only be produced by microbiological action on specific precursor materials such as metals. If a corrosion process can be shown to have taken place in a pH-Eh range typical of near-surface natural environmental conditions and no compelling kinetic arguments can be adduced, then mineralogical and geochemical data indicate that the presence of these minerals as corrosion products implies SRB activity.

Subject
Stability, Marine environments, Water, Metal surfaces, Iron sulfides, Sodium chloride, Iron, Minerals, Copper alloys, Corrosion products, Sulfides, Copper, Microbiologically influenced corrosion
Keywords:
Mineralogic fingerprints, corrosion product mineralogy, anaerobic corrosion, sulfate-reducing bacteria
© 1991 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1991
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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