Applications of zinc anodes
Zinc corrodes instead of the metal it protects - the whole principle of cathodic protection rests on that. The anode consumes itself and the steel structure stays intact.
How it works
Zinc has a lower electrochemical potential than iron. Connected to a steel structure in the presence of an electrolyte - water, moisture, salt - it oxidises first and gives up its electrons rather than letting the steel corrode. Hence the name: sacrificial anode.
The protection lasts until the anode is consumed, so in practice it is replaced every few years, and its mass is matched to the surface area being protected and to how aggressive the environment is.
Where they are used
- Construction - protection of bridges, pipelines, steel structures and building components
- Marine industry - ship hulls, drilling platforms and equipment in constant contact with salt water, the harshest corrosive conditions there are
- Automotive - bodywork and chassis components exposed to road salt
- Aviation - metal aircraft structures, where corrosion is a matter of safety, not just durability
- Electroplating - coating metal parts with a layer of zinc, to protect against corrosion and improve appearance
What we supply
We offer two types of zinc anode:
- Pro - ball anodes, ø 40 mm and ø 50 mm, zinc of 99.995% purity, compliant with DIN EN 1179
- Z1 - flat anodes in high-grade zinc, measuring 10 × 200 × 600 mm and 10 × 200 × 1,000 mm
Need the material, or some advice?
We will match the thickness and form of the material to the Pb equivalent in your design, cut it to size and ship it across Europe. For non-standard shapes a drawing or a .dxf file is all we need.
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