sacrificial anode
Deliberate decay target
A sacrificial anode is a piece of reactive metal attached to a structure to protect it from corrosion.
The anode corrodes preferentially, sparing the main structure—typically a ship's hull, water heater, or underground pipe.
Zinc and magnesium are common choices because they oxidize more readily than steel: The boat's sacrificial anode needed replacing after two seasons.
- electrodepositionCoating surfaces using electricity
- corrosionChemical wearing away
- plateFlat dish for food
- zincElement thirty
- galvanicShockingly stimulating or exciting
boat hull · redox reaction · rust prevention · oxidation · metal coating · corrosion resistance · dissolve · tank · hot water tank · deteriorate · current · galvanic corrosion · decay · aluminum · rust · metal · steel · protective
- corrosion preventioncoating, reference electrode, rectifier
- water heater partspressure relief valve, thermostat, heating element, drain valve, gas burner
- corrosionrust, rusting, corrosion, iron oxide, galvanic corrosion
- metal coatingschrome plating, nickel plating, copper plating, silver plating, electroplating
sacrifice, sacrificial anodes, sacrificing, sacrificed, sacrificial, anode, cathode, sacrificers, anodes