Characteristics and applications of platinum-coated titanium anodes
Platinum-coated titanium-anode.html>titanium anodes have successfully replaced lead anodes as the new favorite for galvanic cathodic protection applications due to their low maintenance costs and higher deposition quality and consistency.
Advantages
Platinum has the advantages of electrochemical inertness, mechanical strength, processability and good electrical conductivity. However it is very expensive. The development of titanium-based platinum and tantalum-based platinum (plating and cladding) materials has opened up the feasibility of using these materials as anode materials for metal finishing and cathodic protection systems in critical applications.
Durable corrosion protection
When used as an anode in an aqueous medium such as seawater, titanium forms a stable insulating oxide film on the surface, which is stable below a certain breakdown voltage, thereby preventing the flow of current between the aqueous medium and the anode. In a marine environment, the oxide formed on titanium can withstand voltages up to 12 volts, above which the insulation layer is destroyed and the electrical current begins the corrosion process. For example, the USS Seawolf has an automatic corrosion protection system based on platinum-coated anodes. The use of platinum on titanium (or platinum on tantalum) anodes allows for cathodic protection systems with reasonable current density and low cost to protect nuclear-powered submarines from long-term degradation.
Environmental protection and low consumption
In hard chromium plating applications, platinum on titanium anodes are environmentally friendly because they are lead-free. They retain their geometry for almost three years, ensuring less downtime and reducing employee health risks as there is no lead chromate to handle. Platinum-titanium anodes have lower energy losses than lead anodes.
The consumption rate of platinum on platinized titanium anodes is very low and proportional to the current. In deep wellbed applications, platinum-coated titanium anodes are a manageable and less fragile alternative to magnetite or graphite anodes because they have small diameter holes and can also save on deep drilling costs.
Excellent protection against corrosion
Platinum-coated titanium anodes combine the good electrochemical properties of platinum (Pt) with the corrosion resistance and other properties of titanium.
The introduction of platinum-plated and platinum-coated anodes provides designers of applied current cathodic protection (ICCP) systems with more novel options and options, as anodes made of titanium-platinum composites and tantalum-platinum composites offer additional advantages, Widely used in the corrosion protection industry.
Applications of platinum-coated titanium anodes
The main applications of platinum-coated titanium anodes are in the field of metal surface treatment and cathodic protection of ferrous metals. In some of these applications, platinum-titanium anodes successfully compete with cheaper graphite and lead electrodes. Processing plants using platinum-coated titanium include electrolytic chlorination plants, breweries, paper mills and manufacturers of chemicals such as reagents, perchlorates and chlorates.
Platinum-coated titanium anodes are widely used in electrolysis processes. They have successfully replaced lead anodes in electroplating applications due to their low consumption, high dimensional accuracy, ability to create precise deposit thicknesses on required geometries, predictable plating chemistries, and ease of maintenance. These anodes can be designed and formed into various geometries depending on the part to be plated. Platinum on titanium anodes is a very preferred anode for electrodeposition of copper, chromium, platinum, nickel, palladium and gold.
Marine applications
Platinum-coated titanium is mainly used as anode material for cathodic protection of marine ships, especially for corrosion protection of ship hulls and their components, including rudders, pump systems, rotating parts, propellers, pipelines, underwater components and structures, ballast tanks, docks System structure and cargo compartment.
underground applications
Platinum-coated titanium anodes are used in cathodic protection systems for underground storage tanks, pipes, tank bottoms, cable jackets and structures buried under corrosive soils. (Learn more about the effects of soil corrosion in Soil Corrosion Overview.)
oil and gas
Platinum-coated titanium anodes and tantalum anodes are used in cathodic protection systems to protect pipes, casing, sucker rods and above-ground storage tanks from corrosion.
Platinum film durability
The fabrication of platinum-coated titanium anodes has been developed and improved over the past two decades. While electrodeposition techniques for coating platinum continue to be popular, achieving adhesion on titanium has been overcome by pre-roughening the titanium surface and pre-coating a very thin conductive primer film over the etched substrate. Coating difficulties.
For cathodic protection systems in power station condensers using a mixture of river water and seawater, platinum consumption rates rise sharply due to the simultaneous production of oxygen and chlorine, and in salt water due to the presence of dissolved solids. Platinum rises to tens of micrograms per amp hour.
In the case of nickel plating, the presence of brightener affects the rate of platinum consumption, which is exacerbated by the sugar content of the brine feed in the steel vessel.
Platinum-coated titanium anodes have successfully replaced lead anodes in hard chromium plating due to lower maintenance costs, improved deposition quality, and greater productivity and consistency. They have become the first choice for corrosion engineers for galvanic cathodic protection of steel exposed to marine environments. New applications are being developed to take advantage of the superior properties of platinum-coated titanium. If you have any questions, please contact us today.
