You are here

FAU Collections » FAU Research Repository » FAU Theses and Dissertations

Steel cathodic polarization and calcareous deposit characteristics in deep seawater

Download pdf | Full Screen View

Date Issued:
1996
Summary:
Field and laboratory ambient and simulated deep seawater sacrificial anode cathodic protection experiments were performed by coupling steel specimens to Al-Zn-Hg anode through an appropriately sized external resistor and thereby permitting a particular level of cathodic protection from freely corroding to overprotection to be simulated. The effects of sea current velocity, surface preparation, initial current density, temperature and hydrostatic pressure upon cathodic polarization and characteristics of calcareous deposits were investigated in the context of slope parameter and steady-state potential and current density trend. The results revealed that a linear relationship between cathode potential and current density is applicable for design of sacrificial anode cathodic protection systems and analysis of cathodic protection survey data from existing structures both in shallow and deep waters. It was also found that for cathodically polarized steel specimens in ambient (shallow) seawater steady-state cathode potential and current density varied according to a sigmoidal trend that indicates the importance of calcareous deposits in such exposures and demonstrated the utility of rapid polarization. On the other hand, no sigmoidal trend was apparent for field and simulated deep water tests; but instead steady-state current density was constant for potential range between -0.80 and -1.05 v (Ag/AgCl). This disclosed that no particular benefit could be derived from employing rapid polarization in cold water exposures. SEM, EDX and X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the calcareous deposits formed upon specimens exposed at 5C and ambient pressure or 8.96 MPa laboratory experiments exhibited two layer structures--an outer layer of CaCO3 as aragonite and inner layer of Mg(OH)2 as brucite. The morphology and coverage of the deposits depended on the design slope parameter (initial current density). Field testing results indicated that deposits were also composed of CaCO3 and Mg(OH)2 where the former was calcite. Because of the poor coverage of the deposits formed in the deep water condition, limited current density reduction was noted. These results suggest that a different cp design approach and strategy should be considered for deep, cold seawater compared to that commonly used in shallow water environments.
Title: Steel cathodic polarization and calcareous deposit characteristics in deep seawater.
136 views
58 downloads
Name(s): Chen, Shaowei.
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Hartt, William H., Thesis advisor
College of Engineering and Computer Science
Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 1996
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 224 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Field and laboratory ambient and simulated deep seawater sacrificial anode cathodic protection experiments were performed by coupling steel specimens to Al-Zn-Hg anode through an appropriately sized external resistor and thereby permitting a particular level of cathodic protection from freely corroding to overprotection to be simulated. The effects of sea current velocity, surface preparation, initial current density, temperature and hydrostatic pressure upon cathodic polarization and characteristics of calcareous deposits were investigated in the context of slope parameter and steady-state potential and current density trend. The results revealed that a linear relationship between cathode potential and current density is applicable for design of sacrificial anode cathodic protection systems and analysis of cathodic protection survey data from existing structures both in shallow and deep waters. It was also found that for cathodically polarized steel specimens in ambient (shallow) seawater steady-state cathode potential and current density varied according to a sigmoidal trend that indicates the importance of calcareous deposits in such exposures and demonstrated the utility of rapid polarization. On the other hand, no sigmoidal trend was apparent for field and simulated deep water tests; but instead steady-state current density was constant for potential range between -0.80 and -1.05 v (Ag/AgCl). This disclosed that no particular benefit could be derived from employing rapid polarization in cold water exposures. SEM, EDX and X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the calcareous deposits formed upon specimens exposed at 5C and ambient pressure or 8.96 MPa laboratory experiments exhibited two layer structures--an outer layer of CaCO3 as aragonite and inner layer of Mg(OH)2 as brucite. The morphology and coverage of the deposits depended on the design slope parameter (initial current density). Field testing results indicated that deposits were also composed of CaCO3 and Mg(OH)2 where the former was calcite. Because of the poor coverage of the deposits formed in the deep water condition, limited current density reduction was noted. These results suggest that a different cp design approach and strategy should be considered for deep, cold seawater compared to that commonly used in shallow water environments.
Identifier: 12457 (digitool), FADT12457 (IID), fau:9351 (fedora)
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): College of Engineering and Computer Science
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1996.
Subject(s): Seawater corrosion
Cathodic protection
Steel--Corrosion
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12457
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.