Influence of metal microstructure on bacterial adhesion

Abstract

The effect of metal microstructure on the adhesion of a corrosion-causing bacterial strain of Bacillus sp. was studied using weild metal, heat-affected zone and base metal coupons of AISI type 316 L stainless steel Observations were carried out using epiflourescence microscope, and micrographs were taken using CCD camera. The extent of adhesion was calculated by image- processing techniques. For the material tested, coupons with different microstructure showed differences in the area of adhesion in spite of uniform surface condition. The heat-affected zone showed maximum number of attached bacterial cells with the base metal showing the least. The results suggest that the bacterial adhesion to metals is influenced by microstructure and segregation of elements on the metal surface in addition to surface roughness.