Abiotic Dominance and Microbial Modulation of Carbon Steel Corrosion in Bentonite under Repository-Relevant Conditions

The long-term safety of deep geological repositories (DGRs) for high-level radioactive waste depends on the corrosion resistance of metal canisters encased in bentonite clay. Microbial activity is typically regarded as a risk factor for microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC), yet its potential mitigating effects and the role of bentonite compaction in shaping corrosion remain insufficiently resolved.