Abstract
In this study, we examined the relationship between the effect of a zinc coating on protecting carbon steel against biofilm formation in both air and water environments. SS400 carbon steel coupons were covered with a zinc thermal spray coating or copper thermal spray coating. Coated coupons were exposed to either air or water conditions. Following exposure, the surface conditions of each coupon were observed using optical microscopy, and quantitatively analyzed using an x-ray fluorescence analyzer. Debris on the surface of the coupons was used for biofilm analysis including crystal violet staining for quantification, Raman spectroscopic analysis for qualification, and microbiome analysis. The results showed that the zinc thermal spray coating significantly inhibited iron corrosion as well as biofilm formation in both air and water environments. The copper thermal spray coating, however, accelerated iron corrosion in both air and water environments, but accelerated biofilm formation only in a water environment. microbially-influenced-corrosion-related bacteria were barely detected on any coupons, whereas biofilms were detected on all coupons. To summarize these results, electrochemical corrosion is dominant in an air environment and microbially influenced corrosion is strongly involved in water corrosion. Additionally, biofilm formation plays a crucial rule in carbon steel corrosion in both air and water, even though microbially-influenced-corrosion-related bacteria are barely involved in this corrosion.
Highlights
Zinc coatings are widely used in building products for the anti-corrosive treatment of steel.Zinc coatings mainly protect steel against corrosion through barrier and galvanic protection effects [1].In general, a metallized zinc coating can produce a thicker layer than a galvanized one [2], which guarantees beneficial effects for resistance to corrosion
We investigated the effect of zinc thermal spray coated carbon steel (Zn-coated) and copper thermal spray coated carbon steel (Cu-coated) on iron corrosion in air or an aquatic environmental condition
We explored which factor(s) such as biofilm formation (MIC) and ionization tendency worked dominantly in iron corrosion
Summary
Zinc coatings are widely used in building products for the anti-corrosive treatment of steel.Zinc coatings mainly protect steel against corrosion through barrier and galvanic protection effects [1].In general, a metallized zinc coating can produce a thicker layer than a galvanized one [2], which guarantees beneficial effects for resistance to corrosion. Zinc coatings are widely used in building products for the anti-corrosive treatment of steel. Zinc coatings mainly protect steel against corrosion through barrier and galvanic protection effects [1]. A metallized zinc coating can produce a thicker layer than a galvanized one [2], which guarantees beneficial effects for resistance to corrosion. The thermal coating of zinc is one type of metallic zinc coating, which is commonly applied to bridges and marine structures where atmospheric corrosion is likely to be accelerated by soluble salts such as sodium chloride [3]. Biofilm formation enhances the metallic corrosion of steels [4]. Biofilms refer to microbially produced three-dimensional structures that consist of water (over 80%), microbes, and extracellular
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