A combination of carbon and stainless steel probes and coupons was used to evaluate microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) in humid air and determine whether dry storage systems (DSSs) could be affected by MIC during extended storage. The material was exposed to several test media at 50 °C and 35% and 90% RH, representing atmospheric environmental conditions. Bacteria survived and grew in some test media, even at 35% RH. Localized corrosion of carbon and stainless steel indicating MIC was observed in some conditions especially the inoculated, soil-covered coupons. Because of the ubiquitous nature of microbes and some MIC evidence shown in this work, it is expected that aerobic microbes could exist in deliquescent solutions under atmospheric environments and cause corrosion at elevated temperatures. However, the extent of MIC will depend on the actual environmental conditions especially the temperature, RH, nutrients, radiation, and the chemistry and quantity of deposits and the variation of these conditions. More detailed and quantitative analyses on these variables are needed to further assess MIC initiation and its consequence.

Subject
Water, Materials, Sand, Probes, Steel coupons, Sea salt, Bacteria, Carbon steel, Carbon, Stainless steel, Soil, Microorganisms, Microbiologically influenced corrosion
Keywords:
Microbiologically influenced corrosion, humid air, carbon steel, stainless steel
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2017
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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