Microbiologically influenced corrosion techniques

Before electrochemical techniques are used in the evaluation of any situation involving microbes, tihe test protocol must receive considerable review by personnel quite experienced in both electrochemical testing and microbiologically influenced corrosion. It must be demonstrated that the method is capable of detecting and in some cases quantitatively measuring corrosion influenced by microbes. 

S. W. Borenstein and G. J. Licina. An overview of monitoring techniques for the study of microbiologically influenced corrosion. In Proceedings Volume. 49th Annu Nace Int Corrosion Conf (Corrosion 94) (Baltimore, MD, 2/27-3/4), 1994. 

F. Mansfeld and B. Little. The application of electrochemical techniques for the study of MIC (microbiologically influenced corrosion)— critical review. In Proceedings Volume. NACE Int Corrosion Fomm (Corrosion 90) (Las Vegas, NV, 4/23-4/27), 1990. 

As was the case in the laboratory, no standards have been written for field tests involving microbiologically influenced corrosion. Many of the electrochemical techniques evaluated above for use in the laboratory can also be taken into the field. The limitations on using these techniques on large structures in the field are described in other chapters of this manual. The same cautions outlined above for using them in laboratory MIC work should generally be carried into the field as well. 

Zintel TP, Licina GJ, Jack TR. Techniques for MIC monitoring. In Sloecker IIJG, ed. A Practical Manual on Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion. Houston, Tex. NACE international, 2001. 

Jones DA, Amy PS (2002) A thermodynamic Interpretation of Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion, CORROSION, Vol. 58, No. 8, pp. 638- 5, August 2002 Jack TR (2002) Biological Corrosion Failures, ASM International, March 2002 Blackburn FE (2004) Non-hioassy Techniques for Monitoring MIC, Corrosion 2004, paper 04580, NACE International... 

In the real world corrosion rates always change with time, for instance some forms of localized corrosion such as microbiologically influenced corrosion can accelerate rapidly and grow exponentially once initiated, and therefore it is important to identify the specific time periods of maximum corrosion rates and the effects of corrosion inhibitors. For this reason instantaneous techniques are important for continuous measirrement of the prevailing corrosion rates for... 

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