Corrosion Never Sleeps- An Overview of Cathodic Protection in Pipes and Ships

Abstract

This paper reviews the recent research and development in the area of corrosion management, cathodic protection in particular related to safety and reliability of ship structures. Corrosion is naturally occurring phenomenon commonly defined as the deterioration of a metallic substance or its properties because of a reaction with its environment. This corrosion can cause extremely dangerous and expensive damage to everything from automobiles, ships, home appliances and drinking water systems to pipelines, bridges and public buildings however this monster can be controlled by expending some bucks. The most commonly used methods for corrosion prevention include organic and metallic preventive coatings, corrosion resistant alloys, plastics and polymers, corrosion inhibitors and cathodic protection – a technique ships and offshore structures that creates an electrochemical shell in which the surface to be protected is cathode and corrosion reactions are mitigated. In conventional electrical theory current is considered to flow from anode to cathode and hence if in a structure current enters to the surface from the electrolyte (sea water) it gets protected from the metallic erosion. Conversely accelerated corrosion occurs if current passes from the metal to electrolyte (sea water).