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Marine Corrosion
Today, much of our infrastructure built
upon steel components is seriously
threatened by a destructive and
persistent enemy: corrosion. If not
properly protected, your marine
facility is corroding right now as you
read this web page. The rate of
corrosion for clean, bare steel is at
least 5 mils per year. This loss in
material thickness can be greatly
accelerated by variations in water
composition, oxygen concentration
cells associated with marine growth,
and water velocity.

Many marine facility owners mistakenly believe that the coating of all submerged
steel eliminates the need for cathodic protection. However, as much as 50% of
the coating on a steel marine structure can be damaged, or completely removed
during construction. Even undamaged coatings suffer from the presence of
microscopic pinholes, which lead to the development of concentrated areas of
corrosion. This severe form of pitting corrosion can have corrosion rates as high
as 50 mils to 80 mils per year - resulting in complete penetration of 1/4" steel
plate in under four years.

Cathodic Protection
The preferred technique for mitigating
marine corrosion, based on historical
performance and measurable results, is
cathodic protection (CP) - the practice of
using electrochemical reactions to prevent
the corrosion of steel structures. The reason
for increased acceptance: cathodic
protection prevents corrosion on underwater
structures.

In theory and practice, the implementation of


a CP system is quite simple. Assuming you
already have corroding steel in seawater, all
you need is an anode, a power supply, and
engineering talent. A protective circuit is
accomplished between the anode, steel
(cathode), power supply and electrolyte
(seawater).
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Impressed Current vs. Sacrificial


Standard industry practice for cathodic protection in new construction includes
the installation of sacrificial anodes, such as aluminum and zinc. These types of
anodes will typically provide a 10 to 20 year service life before requiring
replacement. When retrofitting or replacing these existing CP systems, the most
cost effective system is impressed current anodes, which require an external
power source for their operation. The ease of installation, enhanced performance
and lower installed cost of impressed current anodes make them the ideal CP
system for retrofitting most structures.

Typical Anode Delivery Systems


On the design basis of maximum current distribution for the lowest possible cost,
with the most long-term reliability, ELTECH has developed numerous anode
current delivery systems suited for a variety of facility types and anticipated
operating conditions. The following are but a sample of the many delivery systems
commercially available. Our design engineers are likewise capable of creating
custom systems to suit the requirements of your marine facility.

Pile Mounted Anodes


Pile Mounted Anodes are designed for efficient current
distribution in and around pilings where the complex geometry
of the facility precludes remote placement of the anodes.
These delivery systems are suitable for direct attachment to
pilings. The Flat Back Pile Mounted Anode was designed
specifically for H-Piles, and can also be configured for
installation on sheet piling.

Disk Anode
The Disk Anode was designed in conjunction with the U.S.
Army Construction Engineering Research Lab for use on
navigational locks and dam gates. This anode system is also suitable for use on
seawater intake structures, vessel internals, and sheet piling when shoreside
access is possible.

Retractable Mount
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For installations where it is deemed necessary to access the anode for periodic
maintenance, or when current is only required on a periodic basis, the retractable
anode allows the user to easily retrieve the anode. The above illustration is
rotated by 90 degrees.
Sled Anodes
Anodes mounted on the sea bed
typically afford the best spread of
protection on a marine structure. Sled
anodes can be designed for operation
in either seawater or buried in the
mud. The Post Tension Sled was
developed to insure anode operation
out of the mud when resting in silty
and soft sea beds. By adjusting the
height of the concrete sled, the mesh
anode sled can also be designed for
operation out of the mud. The
advantage of this type of sled is its low
profile, thereby limiting the potential for
damage by anchors, fishing nets, etc.

Suspension Anodes
Suspension Anode Delivery Systems allow for strategic
placement of anodes in and around a marine facility, providing
optimum distribution of current. Many suspended anode systems
are also suitable for mounting on pilings, or other structural steel.

Rod Anode
Although incorporated into a variety of anode delivery systems,
the rod anode is most commonly used for the cathodic protection
of seawater intake structures and vessel internals.

Background on ELTECH
Marine CP Technology
Proprietary technology, in tandem with advanced products and engineering,
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position ELTECH as a leading cathodic protection materials supplier.

ELTECH, the manufacturer of ELTECH LIDA mixed metal oxide anodes,


benefits from the substantial resources of its parent, ELTECH System
Corporation, which is the world's leading developer and producer of DSA
technology for the chlor-alkali and other electrochemical industries. ELTECH
Corporation's unique products and innovative systems have been halting
corrosion in steel-reinforced concrete and conventional offshore and in-shore
structures since 1974.

Mixed Metal Oxide Anode Technology


ELTECH LIDA anodes are comprised of a titanium substrate with a mixed
metal oxide coating. The mixed metal oxide is a crystalline, electrically
conductive coating that activates the titanium and enables it to function as an
anode. This coating has an extremely low consumption rate, measured in
terms of milligrams per year. As a result of this low consumption rate, the
anode dimensions remain nearly constant during the life of the anode,
providing constant levels of performance for the duration of the anode design
life. Due to the ductility of the titanium substrate, a wide range of anode
shapes suitable to the structure to be protected are possible, such as wire,
rod, tubular, disk and mesh configurations.

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