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The 100mV polarization Criteria, when to use it and When not to use it
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1.0 Objective:
The 100 millivolt polarization criterion is a very useful criterion. It is used all around the world
for pipelines and is quite successful in its application. This presentation will discuss the
criterion, when to use it, when not to use it and have a few examples of when this criterion is
used incorrectly.
2.0 AMPP (NACE) CP Criteria for Pipelines from SP0169 & ISO-15589-1 or any other
International Standard:
2.1 Criteria for Steel and Gray or Ductile Cast-iron Piping Criteria that have been documented
through empirical evidence to indicate corrosion control effectiveness on specific piping
systems may be used on those piping systems or others with the same characteristics.
2.2 A minimum of 100mV of cathodic polarization. Either the formation or decay of polarization
must be measured to satisfy this criterion.
2.3 A structure-to-electrolyte potential of -850mV or more negative as measured with respect to
a saturated copper/copper sulphate (CSE) reference electrode. This potential may be either
a direct measurement of the polarized potential or a current-applied potential. Interpretation
of a current-applied measurement requires consideration of the significance of voltage drops
in the earth and metallic paths.
2.4 The shift of 100mV cathodic polarization criterion is described in NACE SP0169 and ISO-
15589-1. The criterion is based on the fact that a shift of the IR-free potential to more negative
values decreases the corrosion rate. With a shift of 100mV a decrease of the corrosion rate
by a factor of 10 can be expected. This effect is empirically demonstrated by von Baeckmann.
This concept requires homogeneous electrodes, which is also the case for the instant off-
potential criterion.
2.5 This effect is considered in ISO-15589-1 by limiting its application to homogeneously
polarized cases. According to ISO-15589-1 the application of the 100mV polarization criterion
should be avoided at higher operating temperatures, in soils containing SRB, or with
interference currents, equalizing currents and telluric currents. These conditions should be
characterized prior to using this criterion. Furthermore, the criterion should not be used on
structures connected to or consisting of mixed metal components. Many countries do not
measure this criterion because the expectation and assumptions indicated above are not
likely met and sometimes unfeasible. This is the reason for the absence of this criterion in
the EN-12954.

3.0 100 millivolts of polarization:

3.1 This criterion states that adequate protection is achieved with "A minimum of 100mV of
cathodic polarization between the pipeline surface and a stable reference electrode
contacting the electrolyte”.
3.2 The formation or decay of polarization can be measured to satisfy this criterion.
3.3 Of the three criteria, this criterion has the best sound fundamental basis.
4.0 How it works:
4.1 The corrosion rate decreases and the rate of the reduction reaction on the metal surface
increases as the underground pipeline is polarized in the negative direction from the native
potential.
4.2 The difference between the corrosion rate (expressed as a current) and the rate of the
reduction reaction is equal to the applied cathodic protection - CP current.

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4.3 These processes can be shown graphically in an E versus Log I diagram, referred to as an
Evans Diagram.
4.4 The slope of the anodic (corrosion) reaction is referred to as the anodic Tafel slope and
typically has a value of about 100mV per decade of current.
4.5 With this Tafel slope, the corrosion rate of a pipeline decreases by a factor of ten (order of
magnitude) for every 100mV cathodic shift in the polarized potential.
4.6 An order of magnitude decrease in the corrosion rate of an underground pipeline typically is
more than adequate to effectively mitigate corrosion.
4.7 The cathodic polarization also promotes beneficial changes in the environment at the pipe
surface, such as reducing oxygen, increasing the pH, and moving halides such as chlorides
away from the metal surface, further decreasing the corrosion rate.
4.8 These beneficial changes in the environment at the metal surface are referred to as
environmental polarization in that the environmental changes typically result in a shift in the
free corrosion potential of the pipe in the negative direction.
4.9 Thus, the total potential shift from the native potential (excluding voltage drops in the soil),
includes components due to environmental polarization and cathodic polarization.
5.0 Polarization formation v/s decay v/s native potential:
5.1 The magnitude of the polarization shift can be determined by measuring its formation or
decay.
5.2 In order to determine the magnitude of the shift as a result of the formation of polarization, it
is first necessary to determine the native potential of the underground pipeline at test
locations before cathodic protection is applied.
5.3 The potential measurement is then repeated after the cathodic protection system is energized
and the pipeline has had sufficient time to polarize.
5.4 Typically, the on potential is continuously monitored at one test location directly following
energization of the cathodic protection system and an off potential reading is made when
there is no measurable shift in the on potential reading with time over a period of several
minutes.
5.5 The off potential is then compared with the native potential; if the difference is greater than
100mV, then the 100mV criterion has been satisfied at that location.
5.6 Off potential readings are then obtained at the other test locations to determine whether the
criterion is met at these locations.
5.7 The time required for sufficient polarization to develop is highly dependent on the nature of
the pipeline (coating type and condition, underground environment, etc.) and the design of
the cathodic protection system.
5.8 From a practical standpoint, it is wise to re-examine the overall pipeline – CP system if a
reasonable amount of polarization does not develop within a few hours of energizing the
cathodic protection system.
5.9 An alternate method of assessing the formation of cathodic polarization is to measure the on
potential immediately following energization of the cathodic protection system and then to re-
measure the on potential after a few hours to days of operation of the CP system.
5.10 If the on potential shifts in the cathodic (negative) direction by more than 100mV, then it can
be conservatively assumed that the criterion has been met.
5.11 This is because the applied CP current generally decreases with time, decreasing the
magnitude of the voltage drop (IR Drop).

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5.12 Thus, the total shift in the on potential must be a result of the sum of additional cathodic
polarization and environmental polarization of the structure; both of which reduce the
corrosion rate of the structure and are included in the 100mV of polarization in the criterion.
5.13 If this method is used, it should be confirmed that the applied cathodic protection current
decreased with time.
5.14 Measuring the positive potential shift associated with polarization decay that occurs following
de-energizing the cathodic protection system is the most common method of determining the
amount of polarization.
5.15 When a cathodic protection system is de-energized, an instantaneous positive shift occurs
as a result of the elimination of the voltage drop (IR Drop) in the soil.
5.16 The potential measured at this time is referred to as the off-potential and is used as the
starting point for assessing the polarization shift.
5.17 There may be a spike in the potential reading immediately following interruption of the CP
system as a result of inductive effects of the pipeline and CP system.
5.18 This spike may last a few hundred milliseconds such that the off-potential is typically
measured 200 to 500 milliseconds following interruption.
5.19 The potential will then exhibit an exponential decay in the positive direction as the
capacitance across the structure to electrolyte boundary discharges.
5.20 This component of the potential shift is the cathodic polarization of the structure as a result
of the applied cathodic current.
5.21 A gradual linear decay in the potential will then occur over minutes to days to weeks as a
result of a return of the environment at the pipe surface to a native condition.
5.22 This component of the potential shift is the environmental polarization.
5.23 To obtain the total polarization shift, the final potential after polarization decay is measured
and subtracted from the off-potential.
5.24 If this difference is greater than 100mV, then the criterion has been satisfied.
6.0 Application of the 100mV polarization criterion:
6.1 The 100mV polarization criterion is used on poorly coated or uncoated pipelines where it is
difficult or costly to achieve either of the -850mV w.r.to Cu/CuSO4 criterion.
6.2 In many cases, 100mV of polarization can be achieved where the off-potential is less
negative than -850mV w.r.to Cu/CuSO4.
6.3 The application of the 100mV polarization criterion has the advantage of minimizing coating
degradation and hydrogen embrittlement, both of which can occur as a result of over
protection.
6.4 In piping networks, the 100mV polarization criterion can be used for the older, poorly coated
pipelines while an -850mV w.r.to Cu/CuSO4 polarized potential criterion can be used for
newer (well coated) pipelines in the network.
6.5 Because of its fundamental underpinnings, the 100mV polarization criterion can also be used
on metals other than steel where a specific potential for protection has not been established.
7.0 Limitations of the 100mV polarization criterion:
7.1 There are a number of limitations with this criterion.
7.2 The time required for full depolarization of a poorly coated or uncoated pipeline can be
several days to several weeks, making the method very time consuming and leaving the
pipeline unprotected for an extended period of time. Fortunately, much / most of the

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depolarization occurs within a few hours and it frequently is not necessary to wait for the full
decay, except where the total polarization is very close to 100mV. Once the criterion has
been met, it is not necessary to continue waiting for further depolarization.

Figure: Polarization decay.

7.3 At the other extreme, if a depolarization of less than 50mV is measured within a few hours it
is questionable whether the 100millivolt polarization criterion can be achieved. At this point,
it may be prudent to assess whether a longer wait for total depolarization is justified.
7.4 The 100mV polarization criterion is frequently used to minimize the costs for upgrading
cathodic protection systems, and the associated increase in power costs, in areas with
degrading coatings.
7.5 Because of the complicated nature of the measurements and the additional time required,
the costs of conducting surveys for the assessment of the 100mV polarization criterion is
considerably higher than for the -850mV w.r.to Cu/CuSO4 criteria.
7.6 Thus, an economic analysis may be required to determine whether there is actually a cost
savings associated with application of the 100mV polarization criterion.
7.7 The 100mV polarization criterion should not be used in areas subject to stray currents
because 100mV of polarization may not be sufficient to mitigate corrosion in these areas.
7.8 It is generally not possible to interrupt the source of the stray currents in order to accurately
measure the depolarization.
7.9 All DC current sources affecting the pipeline, including rectifiers, sacrificial anodes, and
bonds must be interrupted to apply this criterion.
7.10 In many instances, this is not possible, especially on older pipelines where the criterion is
most likely to be used.
7.11 The 100mV polarization criterion should not be used on pipelines that contain dissimilar metal
couples because 100mV of polarization may not be adequate to protect the active metal in
the couple.
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7.12 This criterion should not be used in areas where the intergranular form of external stress
corrosion cracking, also referred to as high pH or classical SCC, is suspected.
7.13 This is because the potential range for cracking lies between the native potential and -850mV
w.r.to Cu/CuSO4 such that application of the 100mV polarization criterion may place the
pipeline in the potential range for cracking.
8.0 When to use the 100 millivolts polarization criterion:
8.1 Applying the 100mV polarization criterion to an older/mature pipeline system.
8.2 When coating disbondment is a concern. Typically on older/mature pipeline systems with
bitumastic/asphalt enamel/coal tar enamel coatings.
8.3 When adding CP/IR coupons to an older/mature pipeline system.
8.4 To minimize interference with other pipeline systems.
9.0 Personal Experience in using the 100 mV polarization criterion:
9.1 I started using the 100mV polarization criterion in the 1990 when I was working on some
uncoated pipelines installed in 1948 & 1949.
9.2 The pipelines were protected using a distributed lCCP system running about 310km.
9.3 They were trying to get an -850mV w.r.to Cu/CuSO4 polarized potential on these uncoated
lines and not having much luck in getting that potential.
9.4 They were also having a tremendous amount of maintenance on the lCCP system due to the
high current levels flowing through the cables and having multiple cable breaks and cable to
anode splices failing.
9.5 We spent 2 years in converting the pipeline to the 100 millivolt polarization criterion and
upgrading the distributed lCCP system.
9.6 The results were achieving a protective potential, lowering the overall output of the lCCP
system and replacing the distributed system with a linear anode system.
9.7 We also performed selective recoating in the heaviest populated areas to ensure public
safety.
9.8 This pipeline had over the years experienced 3 ruptures and multiple leaks and was under
scrutiny by the regulators.
9.9 Since that time I have been involved in multiple projects upgrading the CP systems on
older/mature pipelines with aging coating systems and have been converting many of these
pipelines to the 100mV polarization criterion.
9.10 It is not easy and is very time consuming and does not always have an immediate payback.
9.11 The most difficult part of using the 100mV polarization criterion is educating the pipeline
owners and the government regulators about this criterion, explaining how it works, why it
works and why we are not getting -850 mV w.r.to Cu/CuSO4 on the voltmeter.

Krishnakumar G. Nair (Managing Director of Unicorr Engineering Services Pvt. Ltd): The author
is a Cathodic Protection Professional “NACE International (now AMPP) – The Worldwide Corrosion Authority® (USA) certified 6523 Senior
Corrosion Technologist” since April 2000 and 927 MICorr grading Certificate from Institute of Corrosion (UK), having completed Cathodic
Protection Engineering Certification Course & Exam Feb & Mar 2023 conducted by IIT-Mumbai for Government of India – Ministry of
Education through NPTEL (National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning) for Engineering (Roll #
NPTEL23MM17S34221186); Specialized in Corrosion Control by Cathodic Protection Technology Services with extensive background in
Project Engineering, Construction Management, Maintenance Management & Specialized Surveys at Oil, Gas, Refinery, Petrochemicals,
Power & Water Supply Industries, Cross Country Pipeline Projects and RCC structures, with 31 years + 10 months proven work experience
in Detailed Engineering, Material Selection & Procurement, Field Surveys, Installation, QA/QC Inspection & Documentation, Testing,
Commissioning, Post Commissioning Specialized Surveys, Monitoring, Trouble-Shooting, Maintenance, Training & Development of
Personals.

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