Cathodic protection continued application

Although iron pipes suffer from the same corrosion risk as steel pipelines, associated with the generation of a galvanic cell with a small anode and a large cathode, the risk is mitigated for iron pipelines because the electrical continuity is broken at every pipe joint. For this reason long-line currents are uncommon in iron lines and cathodic protection is rarely necessary. It also accounts for the ability to protect iron lines by the application of nonadherent polyethylene sleeving . 

The scope of application of CP is enormous and continuously increasing. It is possible to protect vessels and ships, docks, berths, pipelines, deep wells, tanks, chemical apparatus, underground and underwater municipal and industrial infrastructure, reinforced concrete structures exposed to the atmosphere, as well as underground parts, tunnels, and other metal equipments using cathodic protection. Apart from reduction of general corrosion, cathodic protection reduces SCC, pitting corrosion, corrosion fatigue, and erosion-corrosion of metallic materials. 

Continuity and short circuits can be remedied prior to installation if necessary. At present all applications of cathodic protection to structures with prestressing are experimental with the exception of the cathodic prevention applied to new bridges in Italy to keep corrosion from initiating. This uses very low level currents and voltages with. special control system. to prevent hydrogen embrittlement,... 

In recent years, continuous zinc ribbon anodes have been used in a variety of underground applications (Kurr, 1973 Peabody, 1976 O Connell, 1977). This type of product has broadened the applications for zinc anodes, for it provides small increments of current continuously along the entire length of a cathode. Its uses are generally considered to lie in specialty applications, where other methods of cathodic protection are either impractical or extremely costly (see later section on induced ac on pipelines). Bagnulo (1973, 1984) has developed a tape with an electrically conducting adhesive as described in the Mechanical Coatings part of Chapter 1. 

Cathodic protection is by far the most versatile method of corrosion control, since it is applicable to any electrically continuous structure within a suitable electrolyte. Inasmuch as the steel embedded in concrete, and not the concrete itself, requires the protection from metallic corrosion, damp concrete serves as a suitable electrolyte, and even structures exposed to the atmosphere, such as bridge decks, can be protected cathodically. 

Corrosion inhibitors in paints protect metallic surfaces from oxidation. Coating primers are used when there is continuous exposure to corrosive elements, e.g., in marine applications. Examples are coal-tar derivatives, epoxy resins and coal-tar modified epoxies. Primers that inhibit corrosion by anodic or cathodic polarization contain inorganic metallic pigments such as chromates or leads or both. Composite pigments containing calcium oxide, zinc, silica, and oxides of phosphorus and boron can also be used (Mathias 1984). Nowadays, powder paints such as polyester and epoxy powder paints can also be used for corrosion inhibition (Rose and Vance 1997). 

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