Abstract:
Combining an electroosmosis direct current (EP) applied at less than 1 mA/Mcm3 (milliamp per 1000 cm3 of concrete) with an anode placed adjacent an outer surface of reinforced concrete soaked with a substantially neutral saline solution, effectively depletes corrosive anions in the concrete even when the direct current is in the range from 0.01 mA to less than 1 mA and at a voltage less than 100 V. Further, using such electroosmotic treatment as a first treatment, and promptly following it with cathodic protection, preferably by an impressed cathodic current (CP) at a comparably low voltage, the current density of CP required for cathodic protection is unexpectedly reduced. This decrease in the required current density of impressed current CP, coupled with low installation and operational costs of the novel system, improves the efficiency of a conventional cathodic protection system, whether by impressed current or with sacrificial anodes, several fold, as high as by a factor of 3 to 30 times. Both processes may be operated together without one circuit interfering with the other.
Abstract:
An effective tarnish inhibiting (“TI”) polymer composition including a scavenger for hydrogen sulfide optionally in the presence of an acid gas such as sulfur dioxide, provides excellent protection against tarnishing of the lustrous surfaces of a silver object. When the composition is thermoformed into a box-like container or extruded as film which contains uniformly dispersed solid micron-sized particles of the scavenger chosen from zinc oxide and a silicate of an alkali metal in an amount no greater than 5% by weight of the polymer, it is transparent so that the condition of the stored silver may be assessed. A solid inert adjuvant may be added. All solid particles in the material have a primary particle size smaller than 53 μm which makes it possible to obtain the uniform dispersion. A silver object may be wrapped in the film, or stored in a sealed box so that the solid particles in the polymer are not coated on the surfaces of the silver object.
Abstract:
A steel-reinforced structure supplied with an aqueous solution of an inhibitor for the strucutre, is further protected against deterioration when an impressed cathodic current is applied; preferably the structure is continuously bathed in the inhibitor solution; flow of the first impressed current is maintained until flow is relatively constant at a level at least one-half the level at which the first impressed current was initiated. The concentration of ions is sensed by measurement of the current flow while maintaining a chosen voltage. The inhibitor solution may be used in conjunction with an electroosmotic current to drive ions into the concrete and towards the steel; this may be done prior to applying the cathodic impressed current, or concurrently therewith by providing secondary electrodes. Program controller means in the power station switches from one mode of delivery to another when current usage, measured by current density, is deemd to have become uneconomical.
Abstract:
A concrete structure is reinforced with steel rebars coated with essentially pure aluminum in the range from about 0.25 mm to 2 mm thick upon which aluminum coating is an aluminum oxide layer in the range from 0.1 &mgr;m to 100 &mgr;m thick. This layer of aluminum oxide and/or hydrated aluminum oxide is referred to as a combined aluminum oxide layer, and it is in direct contact with the concrete. The Al-coated rebars may be protected in a galvanic circuit using magnesium or other metal baser than aluminum as a sacrificial anode, but more preferably the rebars are cathodically protected with an impressed cathodic current the current density of which is derived by sensing the corrosion potential at a sensing member of essentially pure aluminum embedded in the concrete, or in concrete outside a zone immediately surrounding the rebars, measuring the corrosion potential at the sensing member relative to a reference electrode until the value stabilizes at a measured stable potential; then providing an impressed current at a potential in the range from about 150 mV to less than 300 mV lower than the corrosion potential of the sensing member.