NIST Finds That Ethanol-Loving Bacteria Accelerate Cracking of Pipeline Steels (IMAGE)

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

NIST Finds That Ethanol-Loving Bacteria Accelerate Cracking of Pipeline Steels

Caption

Micrograph of crack in X52 steel after the sample was subjected to mechanical forces for several days in an ethanol solution containing acid-producing bacteria, Acetobacter aceti. Researchers at NIST's biofuels testing facility found that the bacteria increased fatigue crack growth rates at least 25-fold compared to what would occur in air.

Credit

Sowards/NIST

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