Repair Systems — Concrete & Structural Defects
Cathodic protection systems
Technical reference for cathodic protection systems in reinforcement corrosion management — discrete galvanic anodes for patch repair halo effect, ICCP for large-area chloride-contaminated structures, and galvanic mesh anode overlays for Australian reinforced concrete.
Cathodic protection systems for reinforced concrete structures
Cathodic protection (CP) is an electrochemical technique that suppresses the anodic oxidation of steel reinforcement by driving a protective current to the rebar surface. It is used where chloride contamination levels in the residual concrete are above the corrosion threshold and physical removal of all contaminated concrete is not feasible or economical. CP does not remove chloride or restore lost section — it arrests ongoing corrosion by keeping the steel in a cathodic (protected) electrochemical state.
Product Reference
Individual products — one card each — scroll to view all
Vector / Parchem
Vector Galvashield XP
Embedded zinc galvanic discrete anode
Vector Galvashield XP is an embedded zinc galvanic (sacrificial) discrete anode tied to the reinforcement in and around a concrete patch repair to control the incipient-anode (ring/halo) corrosion that otherwise forms at the perimeter of a repair. No power supply is required. Anode number and spacing follow a corrosion engineer's CP design. CONFIRM current output and spacing tables against the current Vector / Parchem documentation.
Fosroc / Parchem
Vector Galvashield XP2
Higher-output embedded zinc galvanic discrete anode
Vector Galvashield XP2 is a higher-output embedded zinc galvanic (sacrificial) discrete anode for incipient-anode corrosion control around concrete repairs, suited to more aggressive chloride exposure or wider anode spacing than the standard XP. No power required; distributed in Australia by Parchem. CONFIRM current output and spacing tables against the current Vector / Parchem documentation.
System approach
Galvanic Mesh Anode System
Sacrificial zinc mesh anode — full-area galvanic CP
A galvanic mesh anode system is a full-area sacrificial cathodic-protection approach — a zinc mesh (or sprayed zinc) anode connected to the reinforcement and embedded under an overlay to protect a whole element without a power supply. It is a specialist-engineered system (not a single off-the-shelf product); the proprietary mesh, layout and connections are set by a corrosion-engineering CP design.
System approach
Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP)
Powered (DC) cathodic protection system
Impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) is a powered system that drives a controlled protective current from an inert anode (e.g. MMO mesh or ribbon) through a transformer-rectifier to the reinforcement, with reference cells and monitoring. It provides managed, adjustable, long-term protection for heavily chloride-contaminated structures — designed, commissioned and maintained by a CP specialist. Not a single product.
System Comparison
Cathodic protection — confirm all selections against the current manufacturer TDS before specifying.
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Do not confuse cathodic protection with:
- Migrating corrosion inhibitors (MCI) — MCIs (Sika Ferrogard-903+, Cortec MCI-2020) are chemical inhibitors applied to the concrete surface; cathodic protection is an electrochemical technique — they may be used together but are completely different technologies
- Zinc-rich rebar primers — zinc-rich epoxy primers (Fosroc Nitoprime Zincrich) applied to cleaned rebar provide localised galvanic protection at the repair zone only; cathodic protection systems protect a much wider area of the structure
- Physical concrete repair — cathodic protection does not remove spalled concrete, restore lost section, or replace the structural function of corroded rebar — physical repair and cathodic protection are complementary strategies, not alternatives
- Electrochemical chloride extraction (ECE) — ECE temporarily applies a high current to extract chloride ions from the concrete; cathodic protection is a permanent ongoing treatment — different techniques with different applications
- Re-alkalisation — electrochemical re-alkalisation raises the pH of carbonated concrete around the rebar; cathodic protection is a separate technique — often confused but distinct electrochemical methods
Disclaimer
This page provides general technical information only. All cathodic protection system design must be carried out by a qualified corrosion engineer. Do not rely on this reference as a substitute for professional engineering advice.