Lecture 23: Anodic Protection NPTEL Web Course

Lecture 23

Anodic Protection
Keywords: Anodic Protection Range, Protection Design, Aggressive Environment.

Anodic protection refers to prevention of corrosion through impressed anodic

current. This method of protection tested and demonstrated by Edeleanu in 1954
however can be applied only to metals and alloys that exhibit active-passive
behavior. The interface potential of the structure is increased to passive domain.

If an active-passive alloy such as stainless steel is maintained in the passive region

through an applied potential (or current) from a potentiostat, its initial corrosion rate
(icorr) can be shifted to a low value at ipass as shown in Fig. 23.1.

Fig 23.1 Polarization curves depicting principles of anodic protection

As per mixed-potential theory,

Applied anodic current density = oxidation current density – reduction current
density.

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Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore
Lecture 23: Anodic Protection NPTEL Web Course

Anodic protection is more effective in acid solutions than cathodic protection.

Current requirements for cathodic protection in acid solutions are several orders of
magnitude higher than that necessary for complete anodic protection. Cathodic
protection currents in acid solution can also lead to hydrogen liberation and
embrittlement of steels.

Anodic protection unlike cathodic protection is ideally suited for protection of

active-passive alloys in aggressive environments such as high acidity and corrosive
chemicals. Hence anodic protection is the most preferred choice for protection of
chemical process equipment.

Anodic protection parameters include.

a) Protection range – range of potentials in which the metal/alloy exhibits stable
passivity.
b) Critical anodic current density.
c) Flade potential.

Potential corresponding to middle of the passive region can be taken as optimum for
anodic protection. While choosing the desirable protection potential, an assessment
of the aggressiveness of the environment need be made. Since chloride ions are
detrimental to passivity, higher chloride concentrations can decrease the protection
range. Metals and alloys having relatively larger pitting and protection potentials
can only be chosen for very aggressive chemical environments. Higher temperatures
can deleteriously influence the protection potential.

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Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore
Lecture 23: Anodic Protection NPTEL Web Course

Anodic protection of inner surface of a steel acid storage tank is shown in Fig. 23.2.

Fig. 23.2 Anodic protection of inner surface of a steel acid storage tank

A. Auxiliary cathode
B. Reference electrode
C. Anode connection to the tank

Inert cathode materials having large surface area preferred-Recommended cathode

materials for acid and corrosive industrial liquids include platinum-clad brass,
chromium-nickel steel, silicon cast iron, copper, Hastelloy C and nickel-plated steel.

Various types of reference electrodes such as Calomel, Ag/AgCl, Hg/HgSO 4 and

platinum are used depending on the chemical environment.

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Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore
Lecture 23: Anodic Protection NPTEL Web Course

The DC power supply used in anodic protection is more or less similar to the one
used in cathodic protection. There should be provisions for varying applied currents
and also to reduce the minimum current output. Electronic controls to maintain and
adjust current (or potential) in continuous (uninterrupted) mode could be very
advantageous.

Anodic protection can substantially reduce corrosion rate of active-passive alloys in

very aggressive environments. For example, anodic protection of 304 stainless steels
exposed to aerated sulfuric acid (5M) containing about 0.1 M chlorides could reduce
corrosion rate from an unprotected value of about 2000 µm/year, to about 5 µm/year.
It has been widely applied to protect chemical storage tanks, reactors, heat
exchangers and even transportation vessels.

A comparison between anodic and cathodic protection is given in Table 23.1:

Table. 23.1 Comparison of cathodic and anodic protection methods

Factors Cathodic protection Anodic protection

To all metals in general. Only to those exhibiting active-

Suitability
passive behavior

Only for moderate corrosion Even aggressive chemical

Environment
environment. corrosives.

Low investment, but higher Higher investment, but low

Cost benefit
operative costs.. operative costs.

Protective currents to be More precise electrochemical

Operation
established through initial estimation of protection range
design and field trials possible.

It has been mentioned in earlier discussions on passivity that the magnitude of anodic
current density required for maintaining passivity is much lower than that required to

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Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore
Lecture 23: Anodic Protection NPTEL Web Course

passivate the metal or alloy. Such a beneficial aspect can be used with advantage of
low cost in anodic protection systems.

Approximate current density requirements for anodic protection in some aggressive

environments are given in Table 23.2:

Table. 23.2 Current density for passivation and maintenance in different corrosive environments (Alloy S30400,
room temperature)

Average current density

Environment
for passivation mA/cm2 for maintaining µA/cm2

30-40% H2SO4 0.5 22

70% H2SO4 4.9 4.2
-5
Strong H3PO4 at high temp 2 x 10 1.2 x 10-4
20-25% NaOH 4.3 9

Ref: Anodic protection – (Web-PowerPoint and PDF).

5
Course Title: Advances in Corrosion Engineering
Course Co-ordinator: Prof. K. A. Natarajan, IISc Bangalore