The testing of indium activated, aluminun alloy, sacrificial anode samples, using the procedures of TM0190-90, is principally intended to serve as a QA/QC indicator regarding the electrochemical Faradaic efficiency and anode potential under cathodic protection conditions of 4 mA/in2 (0.62 mA/cm2). Test results from high efficiency, US Navy sized anodes mounted on the NRL-Key West sea-wall test facility obtained from anodes prepared by three separate vendors with heats procured from 1989-1993 show very good correspondence with the short-term test results. Recently, short-term test results with material produced by two new vendors have demonstrated both the false negative and false positive types of apparent errors relative to long-term sea-wall test results. Preliminary indications suggest microstructural features augment possible chemistry deficiencies even within sections of the same anode casting. Although the investigation is continuing, the microstructure and microchemistry evidence gathered to date is presented.
Keywords: Aluminum Alloys, Sacrificial anodes, Cathodic protection, Indium activator, Test methods.