What is Cathodic Protection?

Cathodic protection is an electrochemical technique used to control the corrosion of metal, including reinforcement in concrete. By inhibiting the electrical processes necessary for corrosion, cathodic protection simply prevents it from occurring. Cathodic protection can be an extremely cost effective method of combating corrosion and is commonly used in marine and mining environments.

This is done by either applying an impressed current to the structure using an external power source (impressed current system) or by using a sacrificial anode (galvanized system).

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