5/7/2016

SESCO, Inc. :: Cathodic Protection Engineering

SESCOCathodicProtectionTutorial
WhatisCorrosion?
WhatisCathodicProtection?
CorrosionisdefinedinWebster'sdictionaryas"theactionorprocessofcorrosivechemical
changeagradualwearingawayoralterationbyachemicalorelectrochemical,essentiallyoxidizing
process."
Intheperformanceofourdailyworkandjobresponsibilitiesweusuallyrelatecorrosiontothe
rustingandwastingawayofapipewhichisburiedintheground.Inthissense,corrosioncanbe
consideredasaprocessofnaturalforcesworkingtorestoretherefinedworksofmantotheir
originalstateofcompleteanduniformequilibrium.Thus,inthecaseoftheburiedpipe,corrosionis
theprocessofnaturalforcesworkingtorestoretheironinthesteelpipe,throughrusting,toits
originalstableformofironoxide,ornativeironore.
Thetypeofcorrosionwithwhichwearemostfamiliar,andthetypewhichcausesextensivedamage
toburiedpipe,iselectrochemicalcorrosion.Thisformisalsowidelyknownasgalvaniccorrosion,
andissometimeslooselyreferredtoaselectrolysis.
ElectrochemicalCorrosion(fig.1)takes
placewhentwodifferentmetalscomeinto
contactwithaconductiveliquidusually
impurewaterorsoilmoistureresultingin
aflowofdirectcurrentelectricity.The
currentalwaysflowsawayfromtheanodic
metal(anode),andtheanodeiscorroded.
Thecurrentflowsthroughtheelectrolyteto
thecathodicmetal(cathode),butthe
cathodeisnotcorroded.Thepotentialthat
causesthecurrenttoflowisalwaysdueto
somekindofdifferencebetweentheanode
andthecathode,suchasadifferenceinthe
twometals,concentrationoftheconductive
1:ElectrochemicalCorrosion
liquid,adifferenceintemperatures,a
differenceintheamountofoxygenpresent,orsomeotherdifferenceinconditions.
Technically,fourconditionsmustalwaysbepresenttocreatea
Thereareseveralothertypesof
galvaniccellandforcorrosiontooccur.Theremustbetwo
corrosionwhicharealsoimportantto
differentmetals,oneactingastheanode,andtheotheracting consider.Clickheretofindoutmore.
asthecathode.Theremustbeanelectrolytetoprovideapath
forcurrenttoflowfromtheonemetaltotheother.Andtheremustbeadirectelectricalcontact
betweenthetwometalstocompletetheelectricalcircuit.Theflowofcurrentthroughtheelectrolyte
isalwaysfromtheanodetothecathode.Whereverelectricalcurrentleavestheanodetoenterthe
electrolyte,smallparticlesofironaredissolvedintosolution,causingpittingattheanode.Wherever
thecurrententersthecathode,molecularhydrogengasisformedonthesurfaceandthecathodeis
preservedandprotectedfromcorrosion.
Ifoneofthefourconditionsofagalvaniccellisremoved,corrosioncannotcontinue.Itisthe
removalofoneofthefourconditions,toreduceorinterrupttheflowofgalvaniccurrent,whichisthe
basisforcathodicprotectionandallotherformsofcorrosioncontrol.
Probablyoneofthemostcommongalvaniccellsthatwe
canconsiderasanexampleisthesimpleflashlight
battery(fig.2).Themetal,zinc,isusedasthecaseof
thebatteryandistheanode.Thecarbonrodinthe
centerofthebatteryisthecathode.Andthespacein
betweenthetwoisfilledwithanacid(oralkaline)
substance,whichisthecurrentconductingmaterial,the
electrolyte.Threeofthefourconditionsofagalvanic
cellarepresent,sothereisyetnoreaction.
http://www.sescocp.com/tutorial.php

1/9

5/7/2016

SESCO, Inc. :: Cathodic Protection Engineering

Butwhenthebatteryisconnectedtoanexternalcircuit,
andelectriccurrentisthencausedtoflowfromthezinc
(anode),throughtheelectrolytetothecarbonrod
(cathode).Oxygenisevolvedatthefaceoftheanode,
particlesofzincaredissolvedintothesolution,and
hydrogengasisdepositedonthecarbonrod.Iftheflow
ofcurrentisnotstopped,thezinccasewillcorrodeto
penetration,andtheelectrolytewillleakfromthe
batterycase.
The
formulation
ofoxygen
atthe
anode,and
hydrogen
atthe
cathode
onthe
surfacesof
thetwo
different
metals
maybring
abouta
condition
knownas

2:SimpleFlashlightBattery

3:Pipe/Pipeline

4:MillScale

5:ToolMarks

6:NewPipe

http://www.sescocp.com/tutorial.php

2/9

5/7/2016

SESCO, Inc. :: Cathodic Protection Engineering

7:ExcavatedDitch

8:VaryingSoils

9:ChangingConditions

10:VerticalStructure

polarization.Suchpolarizationwillincreasetheresistancetotheflowofelectricityandwilltherefore
reducetherateofcorrosion.Thisisalsoillustratedintheuseoftheflashlightbattery.Whenthe
batteryhasbeengivenarestaftermoderateuse,andthegasseshavedissipated,thebatterywill
functionagainwithrenewedlife.
Thenumerousgalvaniccellswhichcausecorrosiononburiedpipeallworkverymuchinthesame
mannerasthesimplebatterycell.Theactualmechanismsofthecorrosionprocess,asdiscussedand
illustratedearlier,maybemorecomplex,buttheprinciplesarethesame.
Whenapieceofpipeorathousandmilelongpipeline(fig.3)isburiedintheground,the
moistureinthesoilisalwaystheelectrolyte.Theanodeandthecathodeareasarebothonthesame
pipestructure,andthepipeitselfprovidesthereturncircuit.
Thelowertheresistance,orthemoreconductivetheelectrolyte,thegreaterwillbetheflowof
electricity,andthemoreactivetherateofcorrosion.Thus,therateofcorrosioninsaltpollutedsoils
andinclaygumbosoilswillbemuchgreaterthanifthesamepipewerebackfilledwithhighresistant
http://www.sescocp.com/tutorial.php

3/9

5/7/2016

SESCO, Inc. :: Cathodic Protection Engineering

sandorgravel.Ifthesandorgravelbackfillcouldbemadetobeandremain"bonedry,"thenwe
wouldhaveeliminatedtheelectrolyteentirelyandtheprocessofgalvaniccorrosioncouldnot
continue.
Differentcorrosioncellscanoccurwithinthesameinchonthesamejointofpipe,ortheycouldeven
bemilesapartonawellcoatedpipeline.Someofthecorrosioncellsonapipemaybecausedbythe
variouselementsofiron,manganese,carbonandtraceelementswhichalloccurwithinthetypical
compositionofcarbonsteel.
Somecellscanbecreatedbythedifferentironcompoundsfoundinmillscale(fig.4),orin
atmosphericrust.
Toolmarks(fig.5),scratches,newsurfacesexposedbypipethreadsarealmostalwaysanodicto
otherpipesurfacesandaresubjecttoactivecorrosion.
Whenapieceofpipeisremovedfromanexistingpipelineandreplacedwithapieceofnewpipe
(fig.6),orwithatee,orwithsomeothernewstructure,thenewmaterialisalmostalwaysanodic
totheoldmaterial.Theoldmaterialisnotnecessarilymadeofanybetterqualitymaterialtoresist
corrosion,exceptthatitisalreadypolarizedandprotectedbyvariousprotectivefilmscreatedbythe
prioractionoftheelectrolyticprocess.
Thevariousphysicalconditionsofthesoilenvironmentinthemselvescreatedifferenttypesof
corrosioncells.Thesearesometimescalled"concentrationcells."
Onesuchconcentrationcelliscreatedwhenthepipeisinstalledalongthebottomoftheexcavated
ditch(fig.7)ondenseandundisturbedsoil,whiletherestofthepipewallisincontactwiththe
mixed,looseandaeratedsoilofthebackfill.Thissoilconditionwillalsoholdmoremoistureatthe
bottomofthepipe,andthecombinationofthesefavorableconditionsmakesthebottomanodicwith
respecttotheotherpartsofthecircumferenceofthepipe.Arowofpitsalongthebottomofthe
pipeisthecommonresult.
Concentrationcellsofadifferenttypeareestablishedwhenthepipeditchismadethroughareas
wheretherearelayersofwidelydifferentkindsofsoil(fig.8),suchaslayersoftopsoil,clay
androck.Whereverclodsofclaycomeintocontactwiththesteel,thesepointswouldbeanodicwith
respecttootherpartsofthepipewhichareincontactwiththehigherresistantsoilandrock.
Mostconcentrationcellsoccurinthesoilwhereconditionschange(fig.9),forexample,from
relativelyhigherresistantloamtolowerresistantclaysoils,oralkalineareas.Thesecorrosiveareas
arecommonlyreferredtoas"hotspots."
Thesesameconcentrationcellsarealsopresentwhenastructureisinstalledvertically(fig.10)
throughvariousearthstrata.Thesecanbefoundonwellcasings,foundationpiling,orevenonsteel
fenceposts.
Whenapipeisfirstbackfilled,manycorrosioncellsarequicklysetupduetoacombinationof
causesasalreadydiscussed.Ineverycase,corrosionistakingplaceattheanodicareasironis
beingdissolvedandhydrogenisbeingplatedoutoftheelectrolyteontothefaceofthecathodic
areasofthepipe.Therearesomeveryweakcorrosioncells,andontheoppositehandthereare
someverystrongcells.Astheseprocessesofcorrosionandpolarizationcontinue,someofthe
weakercellsbecomecompletelypolarized,andtheanodesofthesecellsbecomecathodetolarger
cells.Thenetresultisthatthesametotalamountofcurrentcontinuestoflowfromfeweranodes,
causingfailuretothepipeatafasterrate.
Therateatwhichgalvaniccorrosiontakesplaceisgovernedbasicallybythechemicalcomponents
whichcomprisethecorrosioncell.Everymetallicelementoralloypossesses,orgeneratesitsown
specificsolutionpotentialwhenburiedintheground.Thatis,thereisadifferenceinelectrical
pressure(voltage)betweenthemetalandthesoil.Thiscanbemeasuredverypreciselybyattaching
thenegativeleadofavoltmetertotheburiedmetal,andthepositiveleadofthevoltmetertoa
coppersulphateelectrodeplacedincontactwiththesoil.
Whenapieceofsteelpipeisburiedintheground,thesolutionpotentialofthesteel(essentially
iron)canbeobservedtobeapproximatelyonehalfvolt.Whenapieceofgalvanizedsteelpipe(zinc
surface)isburied,thesolutionpotentialwillbeobservedtobeoveronevolt.Then,ifthepotentialis
measureddirectlybetweenthesteelandthegalvanizedpipe,wewillobserveapotentialof
approximatelyonehalfvolt,whichisthearithmeticaldifferencebetweenthetwoseparatesolution
potentials.Bybonding(connecting)thetwopipestogetherwithawire,wehaveestablisheda
galvaniccell,withthegalvanizedpipebeinganodictothesteelpipe.Currentiscausedtoflowfrom
thegalvanizedpipethroughthesoiltothesteelpipe.Thezincisbeingcorroded,andthesteelpipe
http://www.sescocp.com/tutorial.php

4/9

5/7/2016

SESCO, Inc. :: Cathodic Protection Engineering

isbeingpolarizedandprotectedfromcorrosion.
Therelativesolutionpotentialsofanumberofmetals,asobservedinseawater,areshowninthe
followinglist.
Lithium+2.96Volts
Rubidium+2.93Volts
Potassium+2.92Volts
Strontium+2.92Volts
Barium+2.90Volts
Calcium+2.87Volts
Sodium+2.71Volts
Magnesium+2.40Volts
Aluminum+1.70Volts
Zinc+0.76Volts
Chromium+0.56Volts

Nickel+0.23Volts
Tin+0.14Volts
Lead+0.12Volts
Iron+0.04Volts
Hydrogen0.00Volts
Copper(Cuprous)0.80Volts
Silver0.80Volts
Mercury0.80Volts
Platinum0.86Volts
Gold1.50Volts

Thesearerelativevaluesonly,comparedtohydrogen,andthespecificvoltageswillvaryunderthe
differentconditionsofdifferentelectrolytes,differenttemperatures,concentration,etc.Anygroupof
metalssuchasthis,arrangedinorderofthemagnitudeoftheirsolutionpotentials,iscommonly
calledbyseveralnames,agalvaniccell,orandelectrochemicalseries.Ifanytwometalsare
selected,joinedtogetherelectricallyandburiedunderground,theywillestablishagalvaniccell.The
metalthatishigherinthelist,theonehavingthehighersolutionpotential,willbeanodictothe
other.Theanodicmetalwillcorrode,andthemetalthatiscathodicwillbeprotectedfromcorrosion.
Thisisthebasisinprincipleofcathodicprotection.CathodicProtectioncanbedefinedasthecontrol
ofelectrolyticcorrosionbytheapplicationofdirectcurrentinsuchawaythatthestructuretobe
protectedismadetoactasthecathodeofanelectrolytecell.
Thegreatertheseparationofthetwometalsintheseries,themorerapidlywillthegalvanic
corrosionproceed.Whilethosemetalsshownhigherinthelistwillcreatehigherpotentials,theyare
relativelyunstableandexpensivetoproduceincommercialquantity.Aswecomedowninthelist,
magnesiumisthefirstmetalwhichiseconomicaltoproduceincommercialvolume.Itisforthese
reasons:thatmagnesiumisrelativelyhighinthegalvanicseries,andrelativelylowincost,thatitis
usedinthemanufactureofsacrificialsoilanodesforthecathodicprotectionofsteelpipeburiedin
theground.
Whenasacrificialmagnesiumanode(fig.
11)isburiedinthegroundandisconnected
toasteelpipelinethroughacopperwire,a
stronggalvaniccellisestablished(inthesoil
electrolyte)havingapotentialof
approximately1.5volts.Thepotentialthus
createdbytheformationofthisgalvaniccell
isthenusuallysufficienttoovercomeall
othernaturallyexistinggalvaniccellsonthe
pipelineintheimmediatevicinityofthe
anode.Thatistosay,alloftheanodesofthe
smallnaturallyexistingcellsonthepipe
havebeenmadetobecathodestothenew
magnesiumanodewhichhasbeenattached
tothepipe.Themagnesiumanodewill
corrodeinsteadofthepipethemagnesium
alloymetalwillbesacrificedtosavethesteel
pipe.Thisisthepurposeandtheeffectof
cathodicprotection.
Whilemagnesiumanodescanbebeneficialin
slowingtherateofcorrosiononaburied
pipelineunderidealconditions,theydohave
theireffectivelimitations.
Thedrivingpotentialofsacrificialanodesare
completelylimitedtothedifferencein
potentialbetweentheanodeandthe
cathodes.Ashasalreadybeenillustrated,
themaximumpotentialthatmightbe
obtainedbetweenmagnesiumanodesand
steelpipeisslightlymorethan1.5volts.
http://www.sescocp.com/tutorial.php

5/9

5/7/2016

SESCO, Inc. :: Cathodic Protection Engineering

However,toovercomethestronger
potentialsofexternalinterferenceasone
example.Suchinterferenceoftenisproduced
asaresultoftheoperationofacathodic
rectifieronaforeignstructureinclose
proximitytothepipelinereceivingthe
interference.Suchinterferencecouldalso
comefromDCelectricrailroadsorsome
othersourceofstrayDCcurrentinthesoil.
ButDCinterferenceproblemsareusually
correctedbymutualcooperationand
compensationbetweenthetwostructure
owners,whichproceduresaretooinvolved
forexplanationwithinthisdiscussion.
Thecurrentoutputofasinglegalvanicanode
isquitelimitedandcanbeaffectedbyany
one,orevenallofthefollowingconditions:
Theamountofbaresteeltobe
protected,asrelatedtothe
effectivenessofthecoatingonthepipe
(ifany).
Theresistivity(conductivity)ofthesoil
electrolyteenvironmentbetweenthe
anodeandthepipestructure.
Thesizeandphysicalshapeofthe
anode.
Themetallurgicalcompositionofthe
anode.
Thekindandamountofbackfill
materialaroundtheanodeandthe
pipe.
Thephysicaldistancebetweenthe
anodeandthepipestructure.
Thedepthatwhichtheanodeis
11:MagnesiumAnode
buried.
Thenumberofanodesattachedtothepipe,andtheirspacing.
Thepipetosoilpotentialofthepipestructure.
Whileasinglesacrificialanodecouldprovideadequatecathodicprotectiontomilesofaverywell
coatedpipelinewithfewbreaksinthecoating,itcanaffordadequatecathodicprotectiontoonlya
relativelyfewfeetoflargediameteruncoatedpipeunderseverelycorrosiveconditions.Underthese
severeconditionsitwouldbenecessarytoinstallmanyanodes(fig.12)atverycloseintervalsin
ordertoprovidesufficientpotentialtoallsurfaceareasofthepipe.
Amoreeffectiveandpositivemethodof
cathodicprotectionisthroughtheinstallation
ofacathodicrectifierandimpressed
currentgroundbedsystem(fig.13)
insteadofwithmultiplemagnesiumanodes.
Bythismethodanelectrolyticcellis
developedartificially,wheretheentire
structuretobeprotectedismadetobethe
cathodeofthecell,andtheinstalled
groundbedistheanode.Thecurrentismade
toflowfromthegroundbedtothestructure
byconvertingalternatingcurrentpowerto
directcurrentandimpressingthedirect
currentintotheearththroughthe
groundbed.

12:ManyAnodes

Acathodicgroundbedconsistsofadesigned
numberofcarbon,graphite,castironorjunk
steelanodesburiedinthegroundatvarious
depthsandconfigurations.Commonly,the
groundbedwillconsistofapproximately20
http://www.sescocp.com/tutorial.php

6/9

5/7/2016

SESCO, Inc. :: Cathodic Protection Engineering

castironanodes,installedinaugeredholes
15feetapart,andbackfilledwithcarbondust
tolowertheanodetoearthresistance.
Theseanodeswillallbeconnectedtogether
inparallel,withtheheadercableattachedto
thepositiveterminaloftherectifier.
Therectifierinstrumentconsistsoftwobasic
devices:atransformertoconvertpurchased
ACpowerfrom115,230orothersupply
voltage,tothemuchlowerDCvoltage
neededforcathodicprotectionandthe
rectifyingdevicetoconvertthelowvoltage
ACtoDC.Asecondcableisattachedtothe
buriedpipelineandconnectedtothe
negativeterminaloftherectifierinstrument
tocompletethereturncircuit.
13:CathodicRectifier/Impressed
Voltageadjustinglinkageisprovidedonthe
CurrentGroundbedSystem
rectifiersothattheDCcurrentoutputcanbe
adjustedtoanyvalueasmayberequiredto
provideanadequateprotectivepotentialonthepipestructure.WhentheACsupplyisturnedonto
therectifier,thetransformerreducestheACvoltagetothedesiredlevel,convertingittodirect
currentthroughtherectifyingstacksandisimpressedintotheearththroughthegroundbed.Aswith
othergalvaniccells,theimpressedcurrentcollectsonthebaresteelsurfaces,oratthevoidsinthe
coating,andthepipeisusedasareturntothenegativeterminaloftherectifiertocompletethe
circuit.

Therectifiergroundbedsystemhasmanyadvantagesintheapplicationofcathodicprotectiontoa
buriedorsubmergedstructure:
1.Itallowsforanyreasonabledrivingvoltagethatmaybedesiredforeffectivecontrolof
corrosion.
2.Itallowsforanyreasonablecurrentoutputthatmaybedesiredforeffectivecontrolof
corrosion.
3.Itcanbeusedwithalmostanyresistivitysoilenvironment.
4.Thesystemcanbeusedonbareorcoatedpipelinesystems.
5.Structuresofanysizecanbemadetobecathodicandbeprotected.
Thepipetosoilpotentialtest(fig.14)
hasbeenestablishedbycorrosionengineers
asastandardmeasurementtechniqueinthe
evaluationofcorrosioncontrolandthe
degreeofcathodicprotectionappliedto
buriedmetallicstructures.Thecopper
sulphatehalfcellreferenceelectrodeismost
commonlyusedtocontactthesoil.Normally,
thenaturalstaticpotentialsofunprotected
buriedsteelwillvaryfrom0.30to0.80
volts,withreferencetothecoppersulphate
electrode.Suchdifferencesinthepipetosoil
potentialsobservedatvariousintervalsalong
apipelineindicatethevoltagedropsinthe
14:PipetoSoilPotential
soilbetweenthetestpoints.Thismeansthat
galvaniccurrentswillflowthroughthesoilbetweentheanodicandthecathodicpoints,the
magnitudeofcurrentflowdependingontheresistivityofthesoil(electrolyte)andthevoltagedrop
inthegalvaniccells.
Ifthestaticpipetosoilpotentialsalongapipelinewereofequalvalues,galvaniccurrentscouldnot
flow,andtherewouldbenocorrosion.
Whenenoughexternalcountercurrentisprovidedtoacorrodingsectionofapipelinetoexactly
canceloutthegalvaniccurrents,thepipetosoilpotentialsattheanodicpointswillbeequaltothe
pipetosoilpotentialsofthecathodicpoints,andthevoltagedropbetweenthepointswouldbezero.
Thatpointoftheoreticalpotentialequalizationisusuallyatorneartheopencircuitpotentialofthe
anodicpoint.

http://www.sescocp.com/tutorial.php

7/9

5/7/2016

SESCO, Inc. :: Cathodic Protection Engineering

Forexample,iftheopencircuitpipetosoilpotentialofananodicpointis0.65volt,thencorrosion
willbestoppedifthepotentialofthecathodicpoint(s)ismademorenegativeandequaltothis
value.Thisisabasiccriterionforthecathodicprotectionofaburiedstructure.However,itwouldbe
impracticalandalmostimpossibletodeterminetheopencircuitpotentialvaluesandpointsof
potentialequalizationalongapipeline,socorrosionengineershaveestablishedasecondandmore
practicalcriterionforadequatecathodicprotection.
Itisgenerallyacceptedbythecorrosionengineersthatastructurewillbeundercompletecathodic
protectionifthepipetosoilpotentialatallpointsonthatstructureismaintainedataminimumlevel
of0.85volt.Thisvaluerepresentsoverprotectioninmostinstances,sincethepointsofpotential
equalization,aspointedoutabove,isusuallylessnegativethan0.80volt.Thisisthemostpractical
andeconomicalcriteriontoconsiderintestingfortheexistenceofcorrosiononanyburiedand
coatedpipeline.
Structuretosoilpotentialsshouldbeobservedusingapotentiometer,whichdrawsnocurrent,ora
highresistancevoltmeter,whichdrawsonlyaverysmallcurrent.Acoppercoppersulphate
electrodeisusedforthereferencecontactwiththeelectrolyte(soil),andtheremustbedirect
contactwiththestructure(pipe).
Tomakeapipetosoiltestobservation,theleadwireattachedtothecoppersulphateelectrodeis
attachedtothepositive(+)postofthemeter.Awireattachedtothenegative()postofthemeter
isattachedsolidlytothepipeatanyconvenientpoint.Thiscontactcanbemadebyclippingdirectly
toanabovegroundvalve,fitting,riser,orevenbyattachingtoaprobebarpushedintotheground
tocontactthepipe.
Theplugendofthecoppersulphateelectrodeisthenplacedfirmlyagainstthemoistsoilata
positionrelativetothetopoftheburiedpipe.Ifthesoilisdry,itwillbenecessarytospilljustalittle
waterontotheground(1/2cupful)inordertoensuregoodcontactbetweenthesoilandthe
electrode.Thepointeronthevoltmeterwillthenindicatethepipetosoilpotentialatthatparticular
pointonthepipeline.
Continuingandusingthesamedirectcontacttothepipe,butthenusingaverylongwirebetween
themeterandthecoppersulphateelectrode,itwillbepossibletomovetheelectrodeaboutand
takemanypipetosoiltestobservationsatanynumberofintervalsforhundredsoffeetalongthe
lengthofapipeline.
Ifalltestobservationsovertheentirestructurearefoundtobe0.85voltorgreater,itcanbe
concludedthattheentirestructureiscathodicwithrespecttothesacrificialanodes(orwithrespect
totherectifiergroundbed)andthatthereisnoactivecorrosiontakingplace.Thisvalueof0.85volt
considersa"builtin"constantof0.52voltasthesolutionpotentialbetweencopperandcopper
sulphateinthereferenceelectrode.
Pipetosoilobservationsshouldbemadewheneverthereisanyquestionoranydoubtthatthe
structuremaynotbeunderfullcathodicprotection.Itisdesirabletopracticethereobservationof
pipetosoilpotentialsatregular,say,sixmonthintervalstohaveassurancethatnophysical
changeshadpreviouslybeenmadethatwouldupsetthebalanceofthecathodicprotectioncircuit.
Thisisforconfirmationpurposes,andtodiscoveranychangedconditionwhichcouldresultin
corrosiondamagetothestructure.Theperiodofretestingpipetosoilpotentialsshouldnever
exceedoneyear.
Wheneveranyworkisperformeddirectlyonthestructurewhichmayaffectthecathodicprotection
balance,itwouldthenbeprudenttoretestthepipetosoilpotentialatthecompletionofthatwork.
Suchworkwouldincludeanyactivitywhichmightaffecttheinsulationortheshortingofanyportion
ofthestructuretoanotherstructure,anyworkonoradditiontoinsulatingfittings,anyadditionor
removalofpipetothelengthofthesystem,anypollutionofthesoilwhichmylowertheresistivityof
thesoilenvironment,anyindirectcontacttothestructurebyadifferentmetallicstructure,any
nearbyconstructionandsubsequentoperationofacathodicrectifierbyothers,anyothernewsource
ofstrayDCintotheearth,etc.Anychangeswhichdooccurtoreducethepipetosoilpotentialon
thestructureundercathodicprotectionbelowalevelof0.85voltshouldberemovedorcorrectedto
restorethestructuretoaprotectivelevel.
Itshouldberememberedthatcathodicprotectionisonlyonetoolusedinanoverallprogramof
corrosioncontrol,andisoftenusedtosupplementothereffortstoarrestandcontroltheprocessof
corrosion.Someoftheothermethodsusedincorrosioncontrolare:
Insulatingtheinternalorexternalsurfacesofastructurefromtheelectrolytebythe
installationofpaint,wax,coal,tar,asphalt,plastictape,epoxyresin,orothercoatingorlining
http://www.sescocp.com/tutorial.php

8/9

5/7/2016

SESCO, Inc. :: Cathodic Protection Engineering

material.
Installingthestructureinahighresistantorwelldrainedenvironment,suchasinoronsand,
crushedrock,etc.
Cladding,lining,dipping,electroplating,ormetalizingtocoatametallicsurfacewithametal,
alloy,ormaterialofsuperiorresistance.
Theadditionofselectedchemicalinhibitors,passivators,ordessicants.
Theremovalofoxygen,carbondioxide,orothergassesfrom,ortheadditionofinertgasses,
suchasnitrogen,totheenvironment.
Thecarefulconsiderationandselectionoffmetals,alloys,plastics,ceramics,orother
materials,tobeusedinconjunctionwithanecessarymetal.
Controloftheenvironmenttolowertemperatures.
Thereductionofvelocitiesand/orthroughputatthefaceofthecorrodingmaterial.
Theinstallationofinlineinsulatingmaterials.

Copyright2002,SESCO,Inc.

http://www.sescocp.com/tutorial.php

Phone:19183361221
Email:info@sescocp.com

9/9