Effects of Zinc Addition on the Performance of Aluminium as Sacrificial Anode in Seawater

Abstract

In this work, the effect of zinc addition on the performance of aluminium-based sacrificial anode in seawater was investigated. The parameters used in assessing the performance of the cast anodes are anodic efficiency, protection efficiency and polarized potential. The percentages of Zn in the anodes were varied from 1 to 8%Zn. The alloys produced were tested as sacrificial anode for the protection of mild steel in seawater at room temperature. Current efficiency as high as 86.69% was achieved at 6%Zn in the alloys. The polarized potential obtained for the couples(steel/Al based alloys) are as given in the pourbaix diagrams with the steel lying within the immunity region/cathodic region (