Effect of Halomonas titanicae on fluctuating water-line corrosion of EH40 steel.

• The dynamic WLC of EH40 steel in sterile and biotic media is investigated. • Areas of low water-line in the sterile medium are cathodic but anodic with bacteria. • The metabolism of H. titanicae reduces the oxygen in the area of low water-line. The fluctuating water-line corrosion of EH40 steel in sterile and biotic media was investigated with a wire beam electrode. When the coupons were partially immersed in the sterile medium, the position of the low water-line acted as the cathodic zone and the area below the low water-line constantly served as the main anodic zone. The thin electrolyte layers with uneven thickness promoted the galvanic current of the region below the low water-line. Different from the sterile environment, the metabolism of Halomonas titanica with oxygen as the final electron acceptor reduced the dissolved oxygen concentration, which resulted in the position of the low water-line acting as the anodic zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]