ANODIC

PROTECTION
Feasibility of anodic
protection is firstly
demonstrated and tested
by Edeleanu in 1954

Corrosion control of metal structure by

impressed anodic current.
Interface potential of the structure is
increased into passive corrosion domain.
Protective film is formed on the surface of
metal structure which decrease the
corrosion rate down to its passive
current.
Can
be
applied
metals/alloys only.

for

active-passive

Anodic protection can decrease

corrosion rate substantially.
Anodic protection of 304SS exposed to an
aerated H2SO4 at 300C at 0.500 vs. SCE
Acid
concentration, M

NaCl, M

Cor. Rate m/y

(Unprotected)

Cor. Rate m/y

(Protected)

0.5
0.5
0.5
5
5
5

10-5
10-3
10-1
10-5
10-3
10-1

360
74
81
49000
29000
2000

0.64
1.1
5.1
0.41
1.0
5.3

Metals which can be passivated

and de-activated

The metals which can be passivated by

oxidation and activated by reduction are those
which have a higher oxide less soluble than a
lower oxide and will thus each corrosion
domain forms an angle.
The lower the apex of this angle in the diagram
(such as titanium, chromium and tin etc.), the
easier it will be to passivate the metal by
oxidation and it will be difficult to reactivate
the passivated metals by reduction.

Titanium and
chromium can be
passivated very
easily and their
passivation
process will occur
more often than
not,
spontaneously,
even in the
absence of
oxidizing agent.

Experimental potential - pH diagram for chromium

Anodic polarization curve of

AISI 304 SS in 0.5 M H2SO4

Anodic protection parameters :

(can be obtained from anodic
polarization measurement)

Range of potential in which metal is in

passivation state (protection range)
Critical current density
Flade potential

Optimum potential for anodic protection

is midway in the passive region

Flade potential (EF)

E F E n 0,059pH
O
F

In which EFO : Flade potential at pH = 0

n : a constant (between 1 and 2) depends of
metal composition and environment
conditions
Metals having EF < equilibrium potential of
hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) can be
passivated by non oxidizing acid (i.e.
titanium)
Increasing temperature will reduce the
protection potential range and increase the
critical current density and therefore anodic
protection will be more difficult to be applied.

Parameters that should be

considered for anodic protection
design (Flade potential is not
included in the figure) 10

Influences of temperature and chloride concentration on

anodic polarization curve of stainless steels
(schematic figure)

Anodic polarization curves of a mild steel in 10%

sulfuric acid at 22 and 600C

For metals exposed in aggressive

ions containing - environment

Interface potential of metal should

be :
Eprot>Elogam>Eflade

Basically : Eflade is equal or slightly

lower than Epp.

Schematic figure of potential range for anodic

protection of a stainless steel which is
susceptible to pitting corrosion in an
environment containing aggressive ions

Increasing of chloride ions

concentration results in a significant
decrease of protection potential
range.
Consequently, in aggressive ions
containing-environment anodic
protection is applied only for metals
which have relatively high protection
potential and high pitting potential.
Increasing temperature leading to a
decrease of Eprot

Schematic figure of anodic protection

system for protecting inner surface of
storage tank

CATHODES FOR ANODIC

PROTECTION
Should be permanent and can be used as
current collector without any significant
degradation.
Having large surface area in order to suppress
cathodic overpotential.
Low cost.
Platinum clad brass can be used for anodic
protection cathodes because this cathode has
low overpotential and its degradation rate is
very low, however it is very expensive.

Cathodes used in recent anodic

protection systems

Comparison of anodic and cathodic

protection :
Anodic
Cathodic
protection
protection
Applicability

Active-passive
metals only

All metals

Corrosives

Weak to
aggressive

Weak to
moderate

Relative
High
investment cost

Low

Relative
operation cost

Very low

Mediums to
high

Equipment

Potentiostat +
cathode/s

Sacrificial anodes or
DC power supply +
ICCP anode/s

Throwing
power

Very high

Low to high

Significant of
applied current

Often a direct
measure of
protected
corrosion rate

Complex
Does not
indicate
corrosion rate

Operating
conditions

Can be
accurately and
rapidly
determined by
electrochemical
measurement

Must usually be
determined by
empirical
testing

Typical applications of anodic protection

Anodic protection has been applied to protect

storage tanks, reactors, heat exchangers and
transportation vessels for corrosive solutions.

Heat exchangers (tubes, spirals and plates

types) including their anodic protection systems
can be easily to purchase in the market.

i.e. AISI 316 SS HE is used to handle 96-98%

sulfuric acid solution at 110 0C.
Anodic
protection decreases corrosion rate of the
stainless steel, initially from 5mm/year down to
0.025mm/year and therefore less contaminated
sulfuric acid can be obtained.

DATA
Effect of chromium content on critical
current density and Flade potential of iron
exposed in 10% sulfuric acid.

Effects of nickel and chromium contents on critical current

density passivation potential in 1N and 10 N H2SO4 containing
0.5 N K2SO4

Requirement of critical protection current densities

for several austenitic stainless steels (18-20 Cr , 8-12
Ni) exposed in different electrolytes
Protection current density : current density required
to maintain passivity

Effect of sulfuric acid concentration at 240C on the corrosion

rate and critical current density of stainless steel

Effect of stirring of electrolyte on the corrosion rate and

requirement of current density to maintain passivity on a
stainless steel at 270C

Current density requirements for

anodic protection

Anodic Protection Using a Galvanic Cathode

A cylindrical tank of 304 stainless steel for
storing deaerated sulfuric acid (pH=0) is
found to corrode rapidly. To provide anodic
protection, a galvanic cathode of platinum
will be installed. The tank has a diameter
of 5 m and the depth of acid is 5 m.
a. Draw a labeled sketch of the polarization
diagram for the tank and calculate the
passivation potential versus SHE.
b. What is the area of platinum required to
ensure stable passivity?
c. What will the corrosion potential be when
the tank achieves passivity?

Data:

304 stainless steel:

Ecor = -0.44 V vs SCE

icor = 10-3 A/cm2

Tafel slope anodic = 0.07 V/decade

icrit = 1.4 x 10-2 A/cm2

ipas = 4 x 10-7 A/cm2

H+ reduction on platinum
i0 = 10-3 A/cm2
Tafel slope cathodic = 0.03 V/decade
SCE = +0.2416 V vs.SHE