A zinc/hydrogel system has been developed for the cathodic protection of steel in reinforced concrete. This system consists of a thin foil of zinc which is attached to the concrete surface by an ionically conductive hydrogel adhesive. A direct electrical connection between the zinc and the reinforcing steel allows the zinc to function galvanically, polarizing the steel and protecting it from corrosion.

Zinc, aluminum, and several aluminum alloys were tested as anodes in contact with hydrogel adhesives, and zinc was found to offer the best combination of working potential, resistance to passivation, cost and availability. Several hydrogels used for medical applications were found to be inadequate for this use, but a hydrogel adhesive was developed specifically to bond sacrificial anodes to concrete. This hydrogel achieved a total charge in accelerated testing equal to 12 years of life at current densities normally used for cathodic protection.

Zinc/hydrogel was installed on about 1000 ft2 (100 m2) of a fishing pier in Ft. Pierce, Florida on members including prestressed pilings, conventionally reinforced pile caps, and prestressed beams. Installation of this system was relatively easy, and initial performance is encouraging. After 5 months of service, adhesion is good and current densities reamain high.

Subject
Steel structures, Galvanic anodes, Anode potential, Adhesives, Cathodic protection, Aluminum, Zinc anodes, Installation, Current densities, Steel, Zinc, Concrete, Anodes
Keywords:
cathodic protection, concrete, corrosion, reinforcing steel, zinc, hydrogel
© 1996 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).
1996
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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