Korrosionsschutzbehandlung

Korrosionsschutz, or corrosion protection, refers to the set of methods and practices used to prevent or slow the degradation of metals caused by chemical or electrochemical reactions with their environment. The objective is to extend service life, preserve safety, and reduce maintenance and replacement costs. Protection is accomplished through barrier approaches that physically separate metal from corrosive media and through control of the electrochemical conditions around the metal.

Barrier protection involves coatings and platings that form a protective layer. Common coatings include paints, powder coatings, epoxy and polyurethane systems, and metallic coatings such as galvanizing (zinc) or zinc-aluminum alloys. Duplex systems combine a metallic coating with an organic coat for enhanced durability. Another strategy is material choice and design, selecting corrosion-resistant alloys or non-metallic materials and avoiding crevices, standing water, and other stagnation points.

Cathodic protection reduces the metal's tendency to corrode by making its surface more cathodic. It can be applied as sacrificial anodes (magnesium, zinc, aluminum) or as an impressed-current system. This method is often used on pipelines, tanks, and submerged structures and is typically used in combination with barrier protection for redundancy.

Environmental and maintenance aspects include monitoring corrosion risk, inspecting coatings, repairing damaged areas, and reapplying protective layers as needed. Standards and testing provide guidance and verification: ISO 12944 for coating systems, NACE corrosion standards, and accelerated tests such as salt spray (ASTM B117) or cyclic corrosion tests.

Applications span civil infrastructure, marine and offshore structures, oil and gas facilities, pipelines, automotive components, and industrial equipment. While highly effective, corrosion protection adds initial cost and requires ongoing maintenance and monitoring to remain effective over the structure's service life.