INFLUENCE OF MARINE ORGANISMS ON THE LIFE OF STRUCTURAL STEELS IN SEAWATER

Data presented in this report reveal the dominant influence of marine organisms in regulating the corrosion rate of steels in seawater. Both fouling organisms and marine sulfate-reducing bacteria become established during the first year of exposure. Once established, the synergistic activity of these macro- and micro-organisms resulted in a steady-state corrosion rate for both general corrosion and pitting. To investigate these effects in different climates and with different organisms present, racks of carbon steel specimens were immersed at five ocean locations. At all sites, after sufficient fouling collected, bacterial corrosion became the dominant type over most of the specimens. At that point corrosion rates stabilized to a constant value. These steady-state rates were found to be lower than expected and surprisingly uniform for the different marine environments, ranging from two to three mils per year. (Modified author abstract)

• Corporate Authors:

  Naval Research Laboratory

  4555 Overlook Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20375-5320
• Authors:
  • Southwell, C R
  • Bultman, J D
  • Hummer, CWJ
• Publication Date: 1974-3-19

Media Info

• Pagination: 22 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Corrosion; Corrosion tests; Microorganisms; Steel
• Uncontrolled Terms: Corrosive environments
• Old TRIS Terms: Steel corrosion
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00057249
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: NRL-7672 Final Rpt.
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 28 1974 12:00AM