Bazzoni and Lazzari1 have proposed a new criterion for the cathodic protection of prestressed concrete. The criterion is based on the use of mixed metal-oxide-activated anodes which exhibit a stable polarized potential over a wide range of current densities when embedded in concrete. The criterion proposes that a "safe" anode/structure feeding voltage can be calculated that will both provide corrosion control in the area covered by the anode system and will prevent the steel reinforcement potential reaching values where hydrogen ions can be reduced to hydrogen and the consequent possibility of embrittlement of high strength prestressing members. This paper describes a laboratory study made to examine the validity of the proposed criterion. The results of the study appear to support criterion as both safe and effective for new prestressed concrete structures and possibly for existing structures as well.

Subject
Pits, Steel structures, Anode potential, Salts, Cathodic protection, Ohmic drop, Mortar, Steel, Instant off potential, Protection potential, Concrete, Electrode potential, Anodes
Keywords:
cathodic protection, prestressed concrete, criterion, hydrogen embrittlement, mixed-metal oxide anodes
© 1994 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1994
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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