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Synergistic Influence of Deposit Characteristics and Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria on the Corrosion of B10 Copper–Nickel Alloy in Marine Environments
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1  College of Pipeline and Civil Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
Academic Editor: Frank Cheng

Abstract:

The co-occurrence of solid deposits and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) poses significant risks of sudden localized failure for copper–nickel alloy infrastructure in complex marine settings. This study systematically investigates the synergistic corrosion mechanisms of B10 alloy beneath four representative deposits with distinct physicochemical properties: insulating silica sand (SiO2), electroconductive magnetite (Fe3O4), semiconductive cuprous sulfide (Cu2S), and adsorptive kaolin clay. Corrosion kinetics and complex interfacial electrochemical processes were monitored over long-term exposure using open circuit potential (OCP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and Tafel polarization. Furthermore, the severity of localized attack and denickelification was quantified via 3D laser confocal microscopy, SEM, and EDS analysis. The results demonstrate that the presence of deposits acts as a critical diffusion barrier, entrapping aggressive biogenic sulfides and triggering severe localized acidification and occluded cell effects at the metal/deposit interface. Crucially, conductive deposits such as Fe3O4 and Cu2S were found to significantly accelerate cathodic depolarization by increasing the effective cathodic surface area and promoting robust galvanic coupling between the covered and bare metal regions. Meanwhile, kaolin clay exhibited a pronounced "synergistic protection" for SRB colonies by effectively adsorbing released Cu2+ ions, thereby mitigating their inherent biocidal effect and fostering robust biofilm development beneath the deposit layer. This research delineates how different deposit types modulate interfacial charge transfer, metabolic byproduct accumulation, and ion migration to accelerate the degradation of Cu-Ni alloys. These findings provide a comprehensive theoretical framework and practical data support for the durability assessment and corrosion mitigation of marine engineering materials under multispecies fouling conditions.

Keywords: B10 copper-nickel alloy; Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB); Under-deposit corrosion (UDC); Synergistic mechanism;

 
 
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