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5.1. INTRODUCCIÓN
Figura 5.7 El estrés celular . La corrosión causada por las áreas de estrés y
áreas de acero brillante en una tubería subterránea
M+ + e -* M
potential change of 100 mV (0.1 V) is required for Pz= 0.05. To achieve the
same amount of reduc- tion in 7Corr a potential change of 0.2 V and 0.3 V
would be required, respectively, for /*a= 0.1V and /3a= 0.15 V. Thus, lesser
polarization is needed with a lower value of /3a. It is, however, not necessary to
reduce the rate of corrosion to zero at £0,a (Fig- 5.14a) as this would require a
large amount of current which might not be economi- cally justified. It is only
sufficient to reduce the corrosion to a negligible amount which would depend on
the number of years the cathodic protection structure is to be designed for. By
cathodic polarization the potential of the cathode (£o,c) becomes nearly equal
to the equilibrium potential of anode (£0,a) and the metal surface attains a
uniform potential, hence, corrosion is prevented. As long as the value of £COrr
is brought very close to the value of £G,a by applying an external current,
corrosion is pre- vented, hence, it is not necessary to reduce the corrosion rate
to zero completely.
Imagine what would happen if the structure is now polarized in the opposite
direction. It would amount to polarizing the potential of the anode to that of
cathode in the positive direc- tion. Theoretically, such a practice should result in
creating corrosion rather than protection. But for some metals, positive
polarization forms a protective oxide/hydroxide surface film and this
phenomenon of passivation for a limited number of metals results in retardation
of corrosion. By this method called anodic protection, it is possible to passivate
active-passive metals. Metals, such as iron, chromium and nickel are
passivated by anodic polarization, which leads to retardation of corrosion. The
potential of this must, how- ever, be maintained in the region of passivity by a
potentiostat. Anodic protection is widely applied in transport of acids and
corrosives in containers and other applications.
5.8 CATHODIC
PROTECTION SYSTEMS
(a) Galvanic anode system or Sacrificial anode system. (b) Impressed current
anode system.
In the galvanic or impressed current system, the metallic structure is made the
cathode (neg- ative) by connecting it to galvanic anodes, which are more
negative than the metallic structure to be protected. In this system, the current
is gen- erated by the corrosion of active metals, such as magnesium, zinc and
also aluminum, which are
galvanic anodes:
The anodes of the above materials are utilized as sources of electrons which
are released when the anodes are buried in the soil corrode. The electrons
released pass through the metallic con- nection between anode and steel, and
thus enter the structure to be protected. A suitable anode is buried adjacent to
and level with the invert (lowest part) of a pipeline. A connection is made
between the anode and the pipeline. The anode, generally magnesium or zinc,
is connected to the pipeline or any buried metallic structure by an insulated
cable. A schematic diagram of a galvanic anode cathodic protection system is
shown in Fig. 5.15a. The figure shows a carbon steel pipe (A), magnesium
anode (B), chemical backfill (C) surrounding the anode, wires connecting the
carbon steel pipe to the anode, the soil (E) and test station (F). The details of
test station are shown in Fig. 5.15b. The resistive component of a galvanic
circuit is shown in Fig. 5.16. The copper wire connection provides a pas- sage
for flow of electrons to the pipe to be protected. The electrons are released by
the con- sumption of Mg anode in accordance with the anodic reaction, Mg —>
Mg++ -j- 2e. The outer circuit is completed by the passage of electrons from the
pipe (cathode) to the anode (Mg anode) through the copper wire (D). The pipe
con- tinues to be protected as long as it receives a regular supply of electrons
from the anode. A typical anode installation in detail is shown in Fig. 5.17. The
figure shows galvanic anodes (A) connected by a test station (F) and separated
from each other by a distance of 8 feet. The test station provides a connection
between the anode lead wire and the structure via the test panel. The details of
the surface box housing test station are shown in the figure. The sur- face box
is sometimes buried below the ground level. The anodes are connected to the
pipe via a central control test panel. For measure- ment of pipe-to-soil potential
and currents from the magnesium anode ground-bed, test stations