What Are Aluminum Alloy Sacrificial Anodes?
Aluminum anodes are a type of sacrificial anode, also known as aluminum alloy sacrificial anodes, aluminum sacrificial anodes, or aluminum blocks. They’re called sacrificial because they corrode themselves, sacrificing their own material to protect more important metals or equipment. Sacrificial anodes are made of easily corroded materials and installed on structures like pipelines and storage tanks to shield the rest of the system from corrosion. They’re also known as primary battery anodes. Aluminum anodes are one common type of sacrificial anode and find use in various industrial equipment, safeguarding them from corrosion.
Aluminum anodes are often used in ship hulls, water heaters, pipelines, storage tanks, and refineries.
The benefits of using aluminum anodes include:
- Aluminum anodes are more active than zinc or magnesium anodes.
- Unlike magnesium anodes, they don’t produce sparks in salt or slightly salty water.
- Aluminum anodes have a longer lifespan and are the only type suitable for any water body, such as fresh, salt, or brackish water.