Research on the mechanisms of anaerobic corrosion

Investigations of anaerobic corrosion of iron over the past years have led to a number of conclusions regarding the mechanisms. In addition several unusual observations related to these corrosion studies were noted. The cathodic depolarization mechanism does not appear too significant. The primary cause appears to be the production of a volatile phosphorous compound by SRB which reacts with iron to form a black precipitate in the medium. The highly reactive phosphorous compound is produced from an organic compound, inositol hexaphosphate, the major source of phosphorous in plants. Other findings include “electrochemical noise”, “hollow whiskers”, and “rusticles”, FeS and Fe3P in tektites and a most unusual attack on glass.