Cathodic protection is an electrochemical means of corrosion control in which the oxidation reaction in a galvanic cell is concentrated at the anode, which suppresses corrosion of the cathode in the same cell. This article provides a detailed discussion on the fundamentals and types of cathodic protection as well as their power sources and design considerations. The criteria for the cathodic protection and types of materials used in sacrificial anodes and impressed-current anodes are also discussed. The article provides examples selected for familiarizing the design engineer with the steps for selecting a specific corrosion control method.

This article describes two principal methods for detecting well casing corrosion, namely, metal-loss tools and casing current measurement, as well as their limitations and advantages. It discusses the factors to be considered in designing well casing cathodic protection systems. These include the determination of cathodic protection current by the casing polarization and CPP tests or by mathematical models; calculation of casing-to-anode separation; isolation of the casing from other facilities; consideration of stray current interference from other dc power sources; and determination of the size and the location of the anode bed for effective current output for the desired life of the anode bed. The article concludes with a discussion on the commissioning and monitoring of cathodic protection systems.

This article provides a detailed discussion on the various devices by which cathodic protection (CP) can be applied to pipe-type power transmission cables. These devices include the resistor rectifier, isolator-surge protector, polarization cells, and field rectifiers. The article describes the interference created by stray currents on CP and associated remedial actions.

Cathodic protection (CP) is an electrochemical means of corrosion control widely used in the marine environment. This article discusses two types of CP systems: impressed current systems and sacrificial anode (passive) systems. It describes the anode materials used in these systems and the CP criteria. The article examines the design considerations and procedures involved in the CP of marine pipelines, offshore structures, and ship hulls. An illustration of sacrificial anode calculation is also provided.

This article presents a brief history and the uses of the anodic protection technique. It compares anodic and cathodic protection and describes the design considerations of the anodic protection system. The article discusses the specific requirements of equipment required for anodic protection. It also explains the applications and economic aspects of anodic protection, with examples.

Steel storage tanks are the primary means for storing large volumes of liquids and gaseous products. The stored fluid could be water, but it could also be volatile, corrosive, and flammable fluid requiring special precautions for storage as well. Corrosion is generally worst where the tank is in contact with the soil. This article describes the soil characteristics and addresses cathodic protection (CP) criteria for submerged metallic piping systems. It provides information on the data required for designing a CP system, alone or in conjunction with a protective coating system. These data are collected from predesign site assessments, tank electrical characteristics, and soil-resistivity measurements. The article addresses NACE Standard RP0169, which gives requirements and desired characteristics for coating in conjunction with CP. It also explains the methods of protecting aboveground storage tanks and underground storage tanks.

Aluminum and its alloys are highly corrosion resistant, protected by a self-healing oxide film that effectively passivates the underlying surface. This article examines the various processes by which the protective layer can be breached and the types of corrosion that can occur. It describes pitting, galvanic, and atmospheric corrosion as well as stress-corrosion cracking, corrosion fatigue, and erosion corrosion. It also covers intergranular, exfoliation, filiform, deposition, and crevice corrosion and special cases of corrosion in soils, seawater, and automotive coolant systems. The article provides an extensive amount of data as well as information on coatings, claddings, and cathodic protection methods; the effects of composition, microstructure, and surface treatments; and the compatibility of aluminum with food and various household and industrial chemicals.

The major benefit of the implementation of the corrosion-control technologies at Army installations is the extension of the service life of buildings and other structures. This article reviews the exposure of military facilities and equipment to a wide variety of environmental conditions, including soils, waters, or atmospheres of varying corrosivity. It presents the case studies illustrating typical examples of the types of corrosion problems found on military installations. The article describes the various corrosion-control technologies used in military facilities. These include protective coatings and linings, cathodic protection, advanced materials selection and design, water treatment, equipment inspection and monitoring, and below-grade moisture mitigation.

This article discusses the particular corrosion problems encountered and the corrosion control methods used in petroleum production (i.e., upstream) and the storage and transportation of oil and gas (i.e., midstream) up to the refinery (i.e., downstream). These control methods include proper material selection, protective coatings, cathodic protection systems, use of inhibitors, use of nonmetallic materials, and control of the environment. The article reviews the aspects of corrosion that tend to be unique to corrosion as encountered in applications involving oil and gas exploration and production. It discusses corrosion problems that are specific to the various types of environments or equipment used in secondary recovery, including producing wells, producing flow lines, and injection wells. Corrosion mitigation methods and guidelines are also discussed for each type of environment.

Tantalum is one of the most versatile corrosion-resistant metals known. The outstanding corrosion resistance and inertness of tantalum are attributed to a very thin, impervious, protective oxide film that forms on exposure of the metal to slightly anodic or oxidizing conditions. This article provides a discussion on the mechanism of corrosion resistance and on the behavior of tantalum in different corrosive environments, namely, acids; salts; organic compounds; reagents, foods, and pharmaceuticals; body fluids and tissues; and gases. It contains several tables that summarize the effects of acids, salts, and miscellaneous corrosive reagents on tantalum and applications for tantalum equipment in chemical, pharmaceutical, and other industries. Finally, the article presents a discussion on hydrogen embrittlement, the galvanic effects, and cathodic protection of tantalum and describes the corrosion resistance of different types of tantalum-base alloys.

This article presents common conventions and definitions in corrosion, electrochemical cells, cathodic protection (CP), electricity, and oxidation. Evans diagrams for impressed current CP in neutral or basic environment and galvanic or sacrificial CP, in both neutral or basic environment and acidic environment, are illustrated.

A close-interval survey (CIS) is a series of structure-to-electrolyte direct current potential measurements performed at regular intervals for assessing the level of cathodic protection (CP) on pipelines and other buried or submerged metallic structures. This article describes the equipment required to perform the CIS. It provides a discussion on the activities that should be performed during the preparation and execution of the CIS. The dynamic stray current identification and compensation by CIS is discussed briefly. The article also explains various factors involved in the validation of CIS data. It concludes with information on CIS data interpretation.

Corrosion of marine- and land-based infrastructure is of major concern and its control forms an important objective. Thermal spray coatings (TSCs) are widely used for corrosion protection. This article focuses on two types of TSCs: cathodic or noble coatings and anodic or sacrificial coatings. It describes the factors affecting the performance of sacrificial TSCs in atmospheric and immersion environments. The article provides information on the applications of sacrificial TSCs, non-sacrificial coatings, and sealants/top coats, and exemplifies the use of sacrificial TSCs on structures for corrosion protection.

Stray-current corrosion is an accelerated form of corrosion caused by externally induced electric current. It can occur in unprotected pipelines and submerged metal structures located near electric power sources or anywhere voltage differences exist. This article describes common scenarios and sources of stray current along with ways to detect it and prevent the type of corrosion it can cause.

This article discusses the factors affecting corrosion behavior. It describes galvanic corrosion and its protection methods. The article also provides information on coatings and inhibitors, which are used in corrosion protection.

The corrosion process that occurs in industrial systems is often difficult to discern until extensive deterioration has occurred. For boilers to function properly, the incoming water must be processed to meet the water quality required for the boiler. This article discusses pretreatment methods of the incoming water and preboiler corrosion protection methods. It analyzes internal treatment and condensate treatment of boilers. The article discusses three types of cooling systems: once-through systems, open recirculating systems, and closed recirculating systems. The corrosion processes which occur in water-recirculating systems and the effect of dissolved gases, temperature, pH, suspended solids, dissolved salts, and scale deposition on corrosivity of water, are also reviewed. The article also considers anodic and cathodic inhibitors and the control of corrosion in municipal water systems.

This article focuses on microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of military assets. It discusses the mechanisms of MIC in hydrocarbon fuels and atmospheric, immersion, and buried environments with specific examples. The article describes the behavior of metals and alloys, namely, copper alloy, nickel alloy, titanium and titanium alloys, aluminum alloys, stainless steels, and carbon steel in immersion environments.

This article describes the various environments affecting corrosion performance, corrosion protection, and corrosion control. These include freshwater environments, marine environments, and underground environments. The article provides information on corrosion in military environments and specialized environments, representing less-well-known environments with more limited applications.

This article provides information on predesign surveys and the various testing procedures associated with wastewater treatment plants. These include soil testing, atmospheric testing, and hydrogen sulfide testing. The primary parameters that influence the production of sulfides within the piping system that transports the wastewater to the treatment facility are discussed. The article describes the corrosion performance of various materials in the soil, fluid, and atmospheric exposures. These include concrete, steel, ductile iron, aluminum, copper, brass, stainless steel, and coatings used for wastewater facilities.

This article explores the use of the electrochemical and nonelectrochemical techniques for measuring the corrosion behavior of buried metals and the types of probes used. The electrical resistance technique is the main nonelectrochemical technique used for measuring corrosion rate. Electrochemical techniques discussed include linear polarization resistance, electrochemical noise, harmonic distortion analysis, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and hydrogen permeation. The principles of operation for the corrosion measuring techniques are described along with examples of their use in soils.