Corrosion is defined as the involuntary destruction of substances such as metals by surrounding media. Corrosion causes accidents in energy and transportation industries and utilities in our homes. It is wasteful financially, costing industrialized nations such as United States about US $ 1 trillion every year, close to 6% of the Gross Domestic Products (GDP). There are several types of corrosion and multiple ways are known to protecting it.  Cathodic protection is an electrical method of preventing corrosion on metallic structures which are in electrolytes such as acidic, basic or even sea water conditions. In this study, the corrosion propensities of different commonly used metals and alloys when exposed to different electrolytic environments such as coca cola, milk of magnesia and Michigan Lake water environments either as a free metal or as a galvanic couple have been determined. It has been found that corrosion of aluminium metal under highly acidic condition such as coca cola environment can be cathodically protected by coupling with copper metal.  Similarly, corrosion of carbon steel or copper under sea water conditions such as Michigan Lake water can be protected by coupling with stainless steel. Thus, corrosion can be protected by carefully selecting metals or alloys and combining them galvanically.

Cathodic protection to prevent corrosion in aqueous environments

246th National Meeting (2013)

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