Evolution of cast iron- and copper- corrosion in '400 day-bentonite-microcosms'

Copper and cast iron are potential materials for the storage canisters of high-level radioactive waste. We designed slurry-experiments for analyzing the microbial influence on the corrosion process of these metals. These slurry experiments contain the Bavarian B25 bentonite, synthetic Opalinus Clay pore water or diluted cap rock solution as well as copper- or cast iron plates in various combinations. During an incubation time of 400 days under anaerobic conditions at 37 °C cast iron plates corrode very fast. The respective metal surfaces show the formation of iron oxides and –carbonates which could form a passivating film that protects the cast iron from further corrosion.