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Influence of copper‐alloying of austenitic stainless steel on multi‐species biofilm development
Author(s) -
Kielemoes J.,
Verstraete W.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1046/j.1472-765x.2001.00967.x
Subject(s) - biofilm , copper , metallurgy , bacteria , materials science , austenitic stainless steel , adhesion , colony forming unit , biology , corrosion , composite material , genetics
Aims: To investigate the bactericidal influence of copper‐alloying of stainless steel on microbial colonization. Methods and Results: Inhibition of bacterial adherence was investigated by monitoring (192 h) the development of a multi‐species biofilm on Cu‐alloyed (3·72 wt%) stainless steel in a natural surface water. During the first 120 h of exposure, lower numbers of viable bacteria in the water in contact with copper‐containing steel relative to ordinary stainless steel were observed. Moreover, during the first 48 h of exposure, lower colony counts were found in the biofilm adhering to the Cu‐alloyed steel. No lower colony or viable counts were found throughout the remainder of the experimental period. Conclusions: The presence of Cu in the steel matrix impedes the adhesion of micro‐organisms during an initial period (48 h), while this bactericidal effect disappears after longer incubation periods. Significance and Impact of the Study: The application of Cu‐alloyed stainless steels for bactericidal purposes should be restricted to regularly‐cleaned surfaces.