High-performance stainless steels resist MIC corrosion
High-performance stainless steels resist MIC corrosion
Keywords Corrosion resistance, Stainless steel
High performance stainless steels are not susceptible to microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC)according to a report from Avesta Sheffield, Avesta, Sweden. MIC is a form of localized corrosion that has many of the morphological characteristics of chloride pitting and crevice corrosion. Reports of MIC in stainless steels over the past 15 years have led to the tendency to regard MIC as a form of corrosion to which all stainless steels are susceptible. However, a recent report in Avesta Sheffield AB's corrosion management publication Acorn notes that while standard stainless grades such as Types 304 and 316 do corrode when attacked by MIC, high-performance stainless steels do not. These steels are defined as those containing substantially higher chromium, molybdenum, and nitrogen, such as the 6 per cent Mo austenitic stainless steels. The absence of MIC in field tests, laboratory tests and in actual service of 6 per cent Mo stainless components shows that these materials are a practical solution in applications where the environment can cause MIC in grades having lower alloy content.
For details contact Avesta Sheffield AB, R&D, 5-77480 Avesta, Sweden. Tel: +46(0) 22681248.
