Effect of heat treatment on corrosion resistance and antibacterial ability of 0Cr15Ni5Cu3Mo carbon steel

Before and after heat treatment, 0Cr15Ni5Cu3MoN stainless steel (SS) samples were immersed in sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) environment to study the effect of heat treatment on the antimicrobial properties of Cu-containing stainless steel. The effect of heat treatment on the corrosion resistance and antibacterial ability of 0Cr15Ni5Cu3MoN SS was studied by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, and electrochemistry. The results show that 0Cr15Cu3 SS has better antibacterial properties with fewer bacteria adsorbed on the surface after heat treatment, and its corrosion resistance is significantly improved. Interestingly, on the 7th day of immersion, the corrosion resistance of the heat-treated stainless steel was lower than that of the rolled stainless steel. This was due to the fact that the rolled samples were protected by biofilm at this time, while the surface bacteria on the heat-treated samples died, resulting in the exposure of the substrate surface and thus reducing the corrosion resistance of the heat-treated samples. Thus, because of the strong bactericidal properties of the heat-treated Cu-containing stainless steel, the corrosion resistance of the samples suddenly decreases in the middle stage of corrosion, and this discovery provides a new view to study the corrosion process of Cu-containing stainless steel in the SRB environment.