A Study of the EH36 Surface Sediment Layer under Joint Protection from Seawater Electrolysis Antifouling and Impressed Current Cathode Protection (ICCP) in a Marine Environment

Abstract

A joint protection device for seawater electrolysis antifouling and ICCP was constructed, and comparative experiments were conducted to study the composition of the EH36 surface deposition layer under joint protection in a marine environment. Surface morphology analysis, energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) imaging analysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) composition analysis were performed on the surface deposition layers of the experimental samples. The experimental results showed that under joint protection, a sedimentary layer was rapidly formed on the surface of EH36 to isolate the seawater medium, and this layer was mainly composed of Mg(OH)2 and a small amount of CaCO3. There was no corrosion on the surface of the EH36 substrate. When only ICCP was used, a relatively thin layer of calcium magnesium was deposited on the surface of EH36. Marine fouling organisms adhere to the surface of calcium and magnesium sedimentary layers and the EH36 substrate, and their attachment affects the formation of calcium and magnesium sedimentary layers. Moreover, marine fouling organisms cause corrosion on the surface of the EH36 substrate. The joint protection of seawater electrolysis antifouling and ICCP can simultaneously prevent electrochemical corrosion and marine biological fouling corrosion on the surface of EH36.