Electrochemical studies of biocorrosion of stainless steel in seawater (A summary of I.C.M.M. research in the field)

A summary of many years' research in the field is presented. This work has elucidated the mechanism by which a biofilm (slime layer) leads to corrosion of stainless steel in seawater. A layer of slime is deposited and grows on surfaces exposed in seawater. This slime causes the corrosion potential of stainless steel to increase with time of exposure to seawater, apparently because the slime catalyzes the cathodic reduction of oxygen in the water. This paper summarizes the evidence for this mechanism and also discusses the effects of water flow rate, temperature and surface cleaning