Accelerated tidal corrosion of X80 pipeline steel by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans

Abstract

Tidal corrosion of X80 pipeline steel in the inoculated marine tidal environment was investigated using weight-loss, SEM/EDS and electrochemical measurements. The results showed D. desulfuricans accelerated the tidal corrosion of the steel and the acceleration effect increased with the altitude of the specimen in tidal zones. The corrosion morphology of the specimens in all zones was non-uniform with some low-shallow corrosion pits in it, and the diameter and depth of the low-shallow pits increased with the altitude of the specimen. The D. desulfuricans activity, distribution of the S-containing compounds and wet/dry process were conjointly responsible for the accelerated tidal corrosion.