Vector Obtains International Rights to Ebonex® Anodes for Cathodic Protection of Concrete and Masonry Structures
Since their introduction 20 years ago, Ebonex anodes have been utilized to provide impressed current cathodic protection to historic steel frame masonry buildings and reinforced concrete structures. Ebonex anodes utilize a conductive titanium suboxide ceramic material with a built-in ventilation system that allows for high current density and allows use in deep applications like concrete beam protection. Vector has been distributing Ebonex anodes for demanding corrosion protection applications for over 10 years.
This announcement compliments Vector’s acquisition of the electrochemical corrosion business assets from Fosroc earlier in 2009 including the Galvashield® range of galvanic protection products and the established Norcure® process for electrochemically treating chloride-contaminated and carbonated structures.
For a copy of the Press Release in .pdf format, click here.
Corrosion of Steel in Concrete & Assessment Techniques, Sergi
Concrete is a porous material whose pores contain an electrolyte made up primarily of sodium and potassium hydroxides. Steel reinforcement is normally protected in such an electrolyte owing to the formation of a dense and uniform passive oxide film. Carbonation of the concrete (neutralisation of the alkali constituents by CO2 gas from the atmosphere), or infestation of the concrete with salt from seawater or from deicing agents leads to the breakdown of the protective oxide film and to corrosion of the steel. Corrosion of steel in concrete is an electrochemical process whereby anodic and cathodic reactions occur simultaneously on the surface of the steel resulting in the dissolution of the metal at the anodic sites. (read more)
Long Term Behaviour of Ceramic Tubular Shaped Anodes for Cathodic Protection Applications, Sergi, Simpson & Hayfield
Ceramic tubular electrodes have been in use successfully as discrete anodes in impressed cathodic protection (CP) applications for several years tolerating current densities several times higher than most commercially available anodes. They owe their success to the stable highly conductive nature of the particular titanium suboxide used. Although stable, the titanium sub-oxide ceramic is known to slowly polarise when subjected to extreme cathodic current densities so it was important to determine their longevity under such strong polarising conditions. A long term programme was, therefore, initiated in 1994 with the objective of monitoring the performance of anodes embedded in steel reinforced concrete blocks over a period of between 7 and 12 years under a range of polarising levels. The work was supplemented by subjecting tubular anodes to the NACE Standard Test Method (NACE Standard TM0294-2001) at normal and four times normal current densities by surface area of the anode at equivalent charge levels of up to 100 years at 110mA/m2 and 900mA/m2. Electrochemical results indicated a very good performance of the anodes over the test period and showed clearly that any polarisation of the anodes was acceptably low. (read more)
