Rapid corrosion influenced by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) of a creviced stainless steel (Fe-15Cr-10Ni) has been produced potentiostatically at -250 mV (SCE) using specially designed media. SRB-influenced corrosion was also produced using a two-compart-ment cell where a small anode was connected through a zero resistance ammeter (ZRA) to a large-aerated cathode. By conducting potentiostatic and ZRA-coupling tests in a number of media, it was found that the corrosion process was influenced by anionic ratios, that is, the ratio of chloride-ion concentration to total-other-anion concentration.

In addition, studies of a convection-free stainless-steel electrode in a ‘Microcell’ assembly were conducted to investigate the stability of SRB-influenced corrosion in a bulk-aerated environment. These results suggest corrosion of stainless steel could occur in an anaerobic, convection-free microenvironment with SRB activity, by using oxygen reduction as the cathodic reaction elsewhere on the material.