Microbiologically assisted stress corrosion cracking of pipeline steel. A review

• M.A. Agievich

Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 31-4, Leninsky prospect, 119071 Moscow, Russia

Abstract: The article analyzes microbiologically assisted stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of pipeline steel, with a focus on sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). SCC is a particularly dangerous type of corrosion damage to steel. The SCC of metals occurs under the simultaneous action of static tensile stress (external or internal) and a corrosive environment. This article provides a review of available information on SRB-assisted cracking, including real-life cases, laboratory investigations, crack mechanisms, and influencing factors. Much attention is given to the pipeline steels used in marine media. Summing up the results, it can be concluded that the rates of crack growth due to corrosion fatigue in saltwater environments can be significantly enhanced by the presence of biologically produced H2S from SRB. The potential role of FeS-containing biofilms formed on the surface of pipeline steels in aqueous media in the promotion of SRB-induces corrosion is described. It has been found that SRB affects the entire corrosion process such as biofilm formation, pitting, hydrogen embrittlement (HE), and SRB-assisted cracking. Methods of protection and inhibitors preventing SRB-assisted cracking are reviewed.

Int. J. Corros. Scale Inhib., 2025, 14, no. 4, 1685-1715
doi: 10.17675/2305-6894-2025-14-4-01

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