Magnesium metal has several electrochemical properties which suggest its use as a galvanic anode for cathodic protection purposes. The most noteworthy of these are:
In view of the mentioned properties and the generally recognized advantages (1) of the galvanic anode for many installations of cathodic protection, a program of experimental field work was begun to determine how magnesium would perform as a sacrificial anode, and to evaluate what advantages it might offer for the practice of cathodic protection. The initial scope of this investigation was essentially limited to considerations of anode efficiency (the ratio of actual current output to theoretical current output per pound of metal consumed), and the effectiveness of magnesium anodes as a means of applying cathodic protection to underground structures such as pipelines. As the work progressed, and the answers to these questions became more obvious, it also became evident that there were numerous other...