Effect of anodic polarization treatment on microbiologically influenced corrosion resistance of Cu-bearing stainless steel against marine Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Anodic polarization treatment was used to investigate microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) behavior of 316 L-Cu stainless steel (SS) against marine Pseudomonas aeruginosa using electrochemical tests and morphology observation techniques. The results indicated that anodic polarization treatment endowed 316 L-Cu SS with a decreased corrosion current and increased pitting potential in comparison with conventional 316 L SS and 316 L-Cu SS incubated in a biotic medium. The surface morphology observations combined with XPS analysis found that 316 L-Cu SS effectively inhibited bacterial reproduction and promoted the formation of a dense protective extracellular polymeric substance (EPS)-Fe membrane, leading to less susceptibility to pitting corrosion than 316 L SS.