Reduction of potential ennoblement of stainless steel in natural seawater by an ecofriendly biopolymer

• The effect of biofilm formation on passive stainless steel in seawater environments is of primary importance since it leads to potential ennoblement of surfaces and subsequently to localized corrosion such as pitting and crevice corrosion. This study aims at developing an ecofriendly alginate biopolymer containing both non-toxic calcium and a limited amount of biocidal zinc ions which inhibits this effect. For this purpose, calcium alginate containing less than 1 % of zinc ions localized in the vicinity of the steel surface in natural and renewed seawater is demonstrated to reduce significantly the ennoblement process of steel. After 1 month of immersion, a mass loss of only 4 % of the active material is observed authorizing thereby long-term protection of steel in real environment. 

Nyckelord

Alginate

Antimicrobial

Biofilm

Biopolymer

Ennoblement

Steel

Biofilms

Biomolecules

Biopolymers

Calcium

Crevice corrosion

Environmental protection

Localized corrosion

Seawater corrosion

Steel corrosion

Zinc

Active material

Biofilm formation

Calcium alginate

Potential ennoblement

Real environments

Seawater environment

Stainless steel

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art (ämneskategori)