CATHODIC PROTECTION
AND ITS THEORITICALLY POSSIBLE REVERSIBLE PROCESS
TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION
CATEGORIZATION
IMPRESSED CURRENT CATHODIC PROTECTION (ICCP)
SACRIFICIAL ANODES CATHODIC PROTECTION (SACP)
REVERSIBLE PROCESS THEORY
INTRODUCTION
Corrosion is a naturally occurring phenomenon commonly defined as the deterioration of
a substance (usually a metal) or its properties because of a reaction with its environment.
The tendency of a metal to corrode depends on the grain structure of the metal, its
composition as formed during alloying, and the temperature or deformation of a single
metal surface developed during fabrication.
Corrosion occurs as a result of an electrochemical reaction driven by a potential
difference between two electrodes, an anode and a cathode, connected by an
electronic path and immersed in the same electrolyte.
There are various time-proven methods for preventing and controlling corrosion. One of
these is cathodic protection (CP). Here well take a look at cathodic protection, its types,
and how it's used to protect buried pipelines against corrosion.
WHAT IS CATHODIC PROTECTION
The metallic surfaces exposed to an electrolyte have a multitude of microscopic anodic
and cathodic sites. Where anodes are more electronegative than cathodes, a potential
difference is created between them, allowing for corrosion to occur.
The function of cathodic protection is to reduce the potential difference between anodes
and cathodes to a neglected value. This reduction is due to the polarization of cathodes
to the potential of most active anodes.
Cathodic protection can be accomplished by sending a current into the structure from an
external electrode and polarizing the cathodic sites in an electronegative direction.
Cathodic Protection Criteria
In order to achieve adequate CP, the protected structure must be polarized to a certain
value. The polarized potential is measured with respect to a certain reference electrode.
A copper/copper sulphate reference electrode (CSE) is the most common electrode
used in soil and freshwater.
There are two types of criteria for assessing cathodic protection. Either one may be used
depending on the circumstances, although the first is considered superior in many cases.
The Potential Criterion
The polarized potential of the protected structure is to be equal to or more negative
than -850 millivolts (mV) with respect to CSE.
The Polarization Shift Criterion
The protected structure is to be polarized by 100 mV with respect to CSE from
its corrosion potential.
Note: These criteria are for carbon steel; criteria may differ for various metal types.
CATEGORIZATION
Two (2) Categories:
Impressed Current Cathodic Protection
Sacrificial Anodes Cathodic Protection
IMPRESSED
CURRENT
IMPRESSED CURRENT
In this type of CP, protection is achieved by connecting the protected structure to
an anode bed through a transformer rectifier (TR). The anode bed is a series of buried
anodes that are electrically connected and surrounded by certain backfill to reduce their
resistance to the earth. The anode bed should be placed remotely from the protected
structure. (For more information, see Cathodic Protection and Anode Backfills.)
Three types of anodes are frequently used: Soluble anodes (aluminium and steel), semi-
soluble anodes (graphite and high silicon cast iron (HSCI)), and non-soluble anodes
(platinum, mixed metal oxide, and polymer)
The main component of this type of CP is the TR, which forces the current to flow from the
anodes to the protected structure (cathode).
The type of anodes used depends on the chemical composition of the electrolyte, to
which the substrate is exposed and the area to be protected.)
SACRIFICIAL
ANODES
SACRIFICIAL ANODES
In this type of CP, protection is achieved by connecting the protected structure to
a sacrificial anode, which is placed close to the protected structure.
Sacrificial anodes are made from active metals such as zinc, aluminium, or magnesium,
which are considered the most active metals according to the galvanic series.
CP current is created by the potential difference between sacrificial anodes and the
protected structure.
The type of anode used depends on electrolyte resistivity and the chemical compositions
of the electrolyte to which the substrate is exposed.
SACRIFICIAL
ANODES
Fe2+ + 2e Fe(s)
Electrode Potential in buried soil
Magnesium : -1.70V
Aluminium : -1.15V
Zinc : -1.10V
Carbon Steel : -0.55V
Ductile Iron : -0.52V -0.30V
Copper : -0.20V
Silver : +0.20V
Gold : +0.80V
Platinum : +1.00V
Reference to Cu/CuSO4 electrode (MATCOR research lab)
REVERSE CP
THEORETICAL
MECHANISM
REVERSE CP THEORETICAL MECHANISM
Reversed cathodic protection or called as reversed CP utilised on galvanic reaction.
The reversed cathodic protection caused the supposedly protected pipe to become
anode while the metal plate that been used to be cathode.
This process will theoretically makes the pipe to become corroded as the pipe gave its
electron to the metal plate and its ion to surrounding (electrolyte).
The metal to be cathode can be copper, brass, bronze, etc. as long the metals are on the
galvanic series list below carbon steel pipe, etc.
The suitable metal to be suitably chosen are two or more metal arrangement from the
carbon steel in the galvanic series list.
Additional Notes
Natural potential for Fe in seawater (Ag/AgCl) is -0.55V while Zn/Al is -1.05V and Mg is -1.5V
[based on CATHODIC PROTECTION DESIGN from Swain Class Notes (1996)]
The steady state electrode potential for Carbon Steel is -0.61V while Cu is -0.36
Air can act as electrolyte with minimum carbon dioxide, CO2 present and presence of
cathodically active, iron and silicon rich.
IF air has high carbon dioxide, CO2 present, the humid air will inhibit the rate of corrosion
as the carbon film form on the targeted objects such as magnesium will have magnesium
hydroxy carbonate film that prevent magnesium to release its magnesium ions to the
surrounding air.
QUESTIONS?
Is any catalyst or speeding process for galvanic reaction?
There is no catalyst for galvanic reaction. Only speeding process can occur by using different
electrolytes.
Can increasing moisture in air will speed up the releasing positive ion from carbon steel that
eventually releasing negative electron to the copper electrode?
Yes, as the 2H2O + 2e > H2 + 2OH- happens rapidly.
Does the resistivity in the earth soil disturb the process of electron transfer?
TBA
Can increasing moisture in soil will speed up the releasing negative ion from copper and
receiving the electron faster from the carbon steel?
Yes. Because 2H2O + 2e > H2 + 2OH- rapidly instead of O2 + 2H2O + 4e > 4OH- .
Does the speed up of releasing ions from the carbon steel/copper will affect its partner
(copper/carbon steel)?
Yes, as it will force for its partner (cathode/anode) to be at the same pace.
QUESTIONS
Does different electrolyte for the carbon steel pipe and copper electrode will affect the
rate of galvanization?
Yes as different electrolyte consists of different mixtures of moisture and oxygen
concentration. Seawater has high concentration of oxygen and dihydrogen monoxide
that allows galvanic reaction to be in fast condition while at atmospheric condition, the
concentration of dihydrogen monoxide is low as concentration of oxygen is high, causing
enough condition for galvanic reaction to be happen. For soil, the concentration of
dihydrogen monoxide and oxygen, are varied upon the soil, thus galvanic reaction may
occurred in fast pace or in slow pace.
2H+ + 2e > H2 (specifically for atmosphere condition and acidic electrolyte)
2H2O + 2e > H2 + 2OH- (where high concentration of dihydrogen monoxide)
O2 + 2H2O + 4e > 4OH- (where dihydrogen monoxide is deaerated or limited)
