Cavitation Erosion Resistance of Alloys Used in Cathodic Protection of Hulls of Ships

Seawater is an aggressive environment which causes the necessity of using corrosion protection of hulls of ships. Cathodic protection is an effective prevention method which has been applied in this area for many years. In this method, potential of the ship's hull is reduced by using galvanic anodes (so-called protectors), which are additionally exposed to cavitation erosion. Results of cavitation erosion resistance investigation of alloys commonly used in cathodic protection of hulls of ships, are presented in this paper. The tests were carried out on the three, most often applied materials which are zinc, aluminium and magnesium alloys. The investigated samples were subjected to cavitation conditions in a jet-impact laboratory stand. Destruction mechanism of the surface layer affected by working liquid was described. The highest cavitational erosion resistance among all studied alloys was exhibited by AlMg alloy.