# Corrosion inhibition of an aluminum alloy by environmentally derived microbial biofilms

## TL;DR

This paper shows that natural microbial communities can form biofilms that prevent corrosion of aluminum alloys.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates that complex microbial communities can inhibit corrosion, contrary to previous focus on microbiologically induced corrosion.

## Key findings

- Environmentally derived microbial biofilms inhibit corrosion of an aluminum alloy.
- Complex microbial communities are more likely to be found on metals in natural environments.
- Microbial interactions may play a role in corrosion inhibition.

## Abstract

Microbial biofilms can influence corrosion outcomes on metal surfaces. Though past studies have largely focused on microbiologically induced corrosion, we report here that environmentally derived microbial communities can form biofilms that inhibit the corrosion of an aluminum alloy. Our findings point to the importance of complex microbial communities, which are more likely to be found on metals exposed to natural environments, in determining corrosion outcomes and highlight a potential role of microbial interactions in corrosion inhibition.