Effect of sulphate reducing bacteria on corrosion of Al-Zn-In-Sn sacrificial anodes in marine sediment

Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of Al?Zn?In-Sn sacrificial anodes in marine sediment was investigated by exposing samples to sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB). Samples exposed to the sterile marine sediment were used as control. The results show that pitting corrosion occurs in both the sterile marine sediment and the SRB-containing marine sediment. However, the corrosion can be increased sharply by the SRB metabolic activity due to the cathodic depolarization effect. In fact, the effect is based on the consumption of hydrogen which probably results in the acceleration of galvanic corrosion between corrosion products and metal substrate.