Course Description

Corrosion is the natural degradation of a metal due to its reaction with the environment, and it occurs through an electrochemical process involving an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte, and a metallic return path. At the anode, metal atoms lose electrons (oxidation) and go into solution as positive ions, which creates a pit or a loss of material thickness. At the cathode, a reduction reaction consumes the electrons that travel through the metal, and no metal loss occurs at this site.

What you'll learn in this course?

• Explain the fundamental electrochemical principles that make cathodic protection work for buried or submerged metallic structures.

• Distinguish between galvanic (sacrificial anode) and impressed current cathodic protection systems.

• Identify the key components of each CP system type and describe their maintenance requirements.

• Perform routine field measurements including structure-to-electrolyte potentials, current outputs, and continuity checks.

• Recognize common CP system failures such as coating disbondment, anode depletion, and rectifier malfunctions.

• Apply the NACE SP0169 and SP0207 criteria to assess whether adequate CP is being maintained.

• Develop a basic CP maintenance schedule and troubleshoot underperforming CP systems.