Synergistic effect of sulfate-reducing bacteria and elastic stress on corrosion of X80 steel in soil solution

•The elastic stress and activities of SRB enhance corrosion independently.•The elastic stress and activities of SRB have synergistic effects on corrosion.•Activities of SRB stimulate the initiation of pitting corrosion.•The elastic stress promotes the growth of pits in the inoculated soil solution.•The elastic stress and activities of SRB induce tiny secondary corrosion pitting.

In this paper, the individual and simultaneous effects of stress and sulfate-reducing bacteria on corrosion of X80 steel were conducted by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Both elastic stress and activity of SRB enhance corrosion of the steel and, furthermore, they have synergistic effects on corrosion behavior of the steel. The activities of SRB give rise to the initiation of pits, and the applied elastic stress keeps and promotes the growth of pits. The activities of SRB and the applied elastic stress induce tiny secondary corrosion pitting at the bottom of the primary pitting.

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