1.

0 INTRODUCTION:

1.0.1 PRINCIPLES OF CORROSION AND CATHODIC PROTECTION:

Metallic corrosion is an electro-chemical reaction in which the metal combines

with a non metal, such as oxygen, to form a metal oxide or other compound.
This depends upon the nature of the environment.

Different metals have different tendencies to corrode, termed activity or

potential. These potentials can be tabulated and form the electro-chemical
series.

A more practical approach is the determination of the tendency of certain metals

to corrode in a particular electrolyte, such as sea water. This is termed the
galvanic series of which the following table is an abridged form.

Active or Anodic

Magnesium
Zinc
Mild Steel
Wrought Iron
Cast Iron
Ni-Resist
18.8.3 % Molybdenum SS, Type 316 (Active)
Lead
Tin
Manganese Bronze
Naval Brass
Aluminium Bronze
Copper
70 Copper 30 Nickel
Nickel (Passive)
Monel, 70% Nickel - 30 % Copper
18.8.3 % Molybdenum SS, Type 316 (Passive)

Noble or Cathodic

Note Some metals and alloys have two positions in the series, marked Active
and Passive; the active position is equivalent to the position if corrosion is
occurring and approaches the electro-chemical series position for the material.
The passive position relates to a non-corroding situation where the material is
protected by a self forming surface film. For example, type 316 stainless steel in
sea water is more likely to be passive than type 304 and is therefore generally
preferred for immersed marine applications.

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If two metals are placed in an electrolyte (e.g. sea water or damp soil) and are in
direct electrical contact, a current will pass through the electrolyte from the
more active metal onto the least active metal. The least active metal does not
corrode and is termed the cathode. The more active metal, the anode, passes
into solution and the flow of electrical current increases. This is a metal ion and
electron transfer process i.e., it corrodes.

This simple cell may be represented as:

Figure 1.1 - Simple Corrosion Cell

The Anodic and cathodic areas in a corrosion cell may be due to the electrical
contact of two dissimilar metals, termed galvanic corrosion. Anodic and
cathodic areas may be formed on a single metal surface as micro-cells for
instance by rain drops on uncoated steel. Alternatively, they may be close but
discrete cells found when accelerated corrosion occurs at uncoated Anodic areas
on a generally coated cathodic structure. In addition there are long line type
cells that occur on pipelines that pass through aggressive low resistivity soils.
These sections form Anodic areas and corrode in preference to cathodic areas in
less aggressive higher resistivity soils.

Large currents can occur at small Anodic areas and lead to rapid corrosion of
marine structures such as ship's internal tanks, external hull plates, sheet steel
piling in harbours and tubular structures common in jetties and petrochemical
drilling and production platforms.

Cathodic Protection is a system of preventing corrosion by forcing all surfaces

of a structure to be cathodes by providing external anodes.

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 As described above, a galvanic corrosion cell occurs when dissimilar metals are
in contact with each other within an electrolyte. Care should be taken in the
construction of structures that will be buried or immersed in an electrolyte to
ensure a galvanic cell is not created.

Typical examples of galvanic cells are:

a) Steel or cast iron water boxes in contact with non ferrous (often copper
based) tube plates in condenser water boxes in ships or generating
plant. Rapid corrosion of the ferrous water box occurs close to the tube
plate.

b) Brass or bronze valves fitted to immersed steel buoyancy tanks or

flooding chambers on marine petrochemical structures. Accelerated
corrosion of the steel occurs near the valve.

c) The connection of steel pipes into an otherwise cast iron system.

Accelerated corrosion of the steel occurs near the cast iron sections.

Sacrificial anode cathodic protection achieves corrosion prevention on a

particular structure or component by forming a galvanic cell where an
additional anode of zinc, magnesium or aluminium corrodes in preference to the
structure. The galvanic corrosion current (see simple cell before) available from
this anode / electrolyte / structure combination should be sufficient to overcome
the local surface corrosion currents on the structure until no current flows from
Anodic areas of the structure i.e the structure is entirely cathodic or under
complete cathodic protection.

The potential, or measure of activity, between the structure and the electrolyte is
a relatively easily measured indication of whether the structure is Anodic or
cathodic. For steel under normal non anaerobic conditions it can be shown
theoretically, and is accepted practically, that a steel/electrolyte potential more
negative than -0.85 volts measured against a standard copper/copper sulphate
electrode indicates that cathodic protection is achieved. This is equivalent to -
0.80 volts measured against silver / silver chloride electrode and + 0.24 volts
against a zinc electrode as indicated in figure 1.3.

SACRIFICIAL ANODE CATHODIC PROTECTION:

As indicated previously, a metal can be made cathodic by electrically

connecting it to a more Anodic metal within the electrolyte. The most
commonly used Anodic metals are alloys of aluminium, zinc and magnesium.
Anodes of these metals corrode preferentially; the corrosion current of the
anode achieving cathodic protection of the structure to which they are
connected. The anodes deteriorate as an essential part of their function and they
are therefore termed sacrificial.

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