Application Data Sheet – Stainless Steel Microbial Corrosion
Microbiologically Corrosion Failure Analysis of 304L Stainless Steel
Susan Borenstein
Aptech Engineering Services
Houston, Texas
Report supplied by Austral Wright Metals
Abstract
An AISI Type 304L stainless steel piping system failed due to microbial corrosion or microbiologically
influenced corrosion (MIC) after being in contact with stagnant, low chloride potable water for nine months.
This report discusses this failure and uses it to illustrate common problems associated with microbial
corrosion in piping systems and other equipment.
Introduction to Microbial Corrosion of Stainless Steel
The term microbiologically influenced corrosion is used to designate corrosion resulting from the presence
and activities of microorganisms within biofilms. Microbiologically influenced corrosion is often
misdiagnosed as an attack caused by conventional chloride crevice/pitting corrosion.
The corrosion literature contains numerous articles in the past few years describing costly pitting failures
of austenitic stainless steel components. The austenitic stainless steel microbial corrosion failures are often
characterized by rapid failure rates with extremely localized attack at weld regions. Although stainless steel
is subject to localized crevice corrosion in chloride bearing waters, the relatively low chloride concentration
of some waters combined with the rapid failure rates does not fit classical stainless steel crevice corrosion.
The cooling water system was an all-welded design constructed of AISI Type 304L stainless steel piping and
was designed to operate with corrosion-inhibited water in a closed-loop mode servicing a series of heat
exchangers. During construction (Phase 1) the system was successfully hydrotested with city water
(potable). Due to construction scheduling errors, the hydrotest water was not drained before the Phase 1
piping system was put into lay-up. Numerous pipe leaks associated with welded regions were detected
during a re-hydrotest after a nine-month lay-up. Phase II piping system components, which were subjected
to only two months of lay-up in the same city water also exhibited corrosion in welded regions.
The system was constructed in two phases; Phase 1 construction was completed and hydrotested with city
drinking water in January 1998. Phase 2 was completed, joined to the Phase 1 piping and hydrotested with
city water in September 1999. At that time failures due to through-wall pitting were discovered in the Phase
1 piping. At that time it was realized that Phase 1 was put into lay-up while full of hydrotest water and not
drained and dried as planned.
Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion Experiment
A failure analysis was performed. Internal inspection found 12 locations of pitting at or adjacent to welds in
the Phase 1 piping system. Radiography was performed to confirm the locations.
Water samples were taken from both Phase 1 and Phase 2 systems, following the failed hydrotesting. The
city water contained very low chlorides, approximately 86 ppm nominal and 25 ppm from samples removed
at the time of failure. The source of the city water is a combination of surface and well water.
Microbiological analysis found corrosion-related microbes, including iron bacteria in the water.
Several areas were selected for metallurgical examination. Figures 1-3 show the results of this examination.
The morphology of the pits found in the stainless steel were jagged, a characteristic of MIC but not of more
conventional crevice corrosion in stainless steel.
Although the Phase 2 system was drained when the hydrotesting found leaks due to through-wall pitting, it
was not drained dry, and some water remained stagnant. After approximately two months stagnant
exposure to city water, this situation was discovered and additional inspection was performed. Inspection
revealed shallow pitting had occurred in the Phase 2 system.
Microbial Corrosion Experient Discussion
It is well known that microbially influenced corrosion commonly results when residual water is left
in stainless steel systems after hydrostatic testing. Natural waters, particularly well water, contain several
classes of microorganisms, which can develop a biofilm in moist environments and accelerate metal
corrosion. The corrosion is in the form of selective phase attack resulting in corrosion pits in HAZ and weld
zones. The failure rates are often rapid (in terms of weeks or months) and frequently occur in waters with
low chloride concentrations (less than 100 ppm).
In this case pitting corrosion failures due to MIC occurred in approximately nine months, because the system
had been allowed to sit stagnant with biologically active, but low-chloride, water. While the failure analysis
was being performed for the Phase I system pitting failures, the Phase 2 system was inadvertently only
partially drained. Inspection was immediately performed on the Phase 2 system. Inspection revealed
shallow pitting had occurred in the Phase 2 system after approximately two months stagnant exposure to
city water. A root cause failure analysis found MIC as the cause of the pitting.
Summary
This report on microbial corrosion illustrates the following:
In bacterial contaminated waters containing relatively low chlorides, failures may occur too rapidly
(in terms of a few months) to be explained by conventional chloride crevice corrosion.
Stagnant water conditions may result in microbiologically influenced corrosion in welded stainless
steel components, if the water is not removed following hydrotesting.
Non-pathogenic microbes, which are not removed from domestic drinking (potable grade water),
may cause microbiologically influenced corrosion.
The morphology of the microbiologically influenced corrosion failed components is consistent with
localized corrosion and pitting at or adjacent to austenitic stainless steel welds.
The technical advice and recommendations made in this Product Data Sheet should not be relied or acted upon without
conducting your own further investigations, including corrosion exposure tests where needed. Please consult current editions
of standards for design properties. Austral Wright Metals assumes no liability in connection with the information in this
Product Data Sheet. Austral Wright Metals supplies a comprehensive range of stainless steels, copper alloys, nickel alloys and
other high performance metals for challenging service conditions. Our engineers and metallurgists will be pleased to provide
further data and applications advice.
