Overview
Magnesium anodes are the preferred sacrificial anode for protecting buried pipelines, storage tanks and offshore structures in high-resistivity soils. As part of a complete cathodic protection system, they deliver a highly negative driving potential that forces the protected steel to become the cathode of the electrochemical cell.
How Sacrificial Anodes Work
When coupled to a steel structure, the magnesium unit corrodes in place of the protected metal. Unlike an ICCP system that relies on an external power source, passive magnesium, zinc anode and aluminum anode units operate without electricity, making them ideal for remote or maintenance-light installations.
Key Specifications
| Parameter | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Driving potential | -1.55 V vs CSE |
| Efficiency | 50 percent |
| Typical alloy | AZ63 / High Potential |
| Soil resistivity | Greater than 1000 ohm-cm |
| Service life | 10 to 20 years |
Typical Applications
- Buried oil and gas pipelines
- Aboveground storage tank bottoms
- Offshore platform submerged zones
- Water heater and boiler interiors
Related Solutions
For higher current demand, pair these anodes with an MMO anode or an ICCP system. Our FRP pultrusion and fiberglass grating structures are frequently specified for the same marine and chemical environments where corrosion control is critical.
