In a method for cathodically protecting and/or passivating a metal section in an ionically conductive material such as steel reinforcement in concrete or mortar, an impressed current or sacrificial anode is mounted on the metal reinforcing bar by attaching a nut member having a female thread to the metal reinforcing bar by elongate flexible wires attached to the nut member so that the nut member and wires encircle the metal reinforcing bar and rotating a threaded rod member carrying the anode body into the female thread so that a forward end of the rod member engages with a front face of the metal reinforcing bar and pulls on the nut member away from the metal reinforcing bar to tension the wrapping wires.

A metal section in concrete or mortar material is protected against corrosion by providing an anode and a solar panel where the solar panel and the anode are supplied for installation as a common unit where the anode is mounted to the rear of the solar panel with an optional storage component therebetween. At least a part of the anode is attached to a surface of the material and one or both of the anode and the solar panel is flexible to conform to the surface. In installation, a light meter is used to determine levels of ambient light for example in an interior location not in receipt of direct sunlight and details of the material and metal section at the location to calculate a required location and size of the solar panels and the anodes.

In a method for cathodically protecting and/or passivating a metal section in an ionically conductive material such as steel reinforcement in concrete or mortar, an impressed current or sacrificial anode communicates ionic current to the metal section and a storage component of electrical energy which can be a cell, battery or capacitor is provided as a component of the anode. A current limiter is provided which prevents excess current draining the supply. This can be a semi-conductive device such as a transistor or diode is connected in the path from the anode to the metal section to limit the cathodic protection current to a value of the order of 1 milliamp. When a diode or similar device is used the current can be limited to the reverse leakage current of the diode.

The present invention relates to a method for impregnating concrete with a non-aqueous electrolyte characterized in that an electric field is applied between electrodes mounted on the concrete surface and/or embedded in the concrete such that the non-aqueous electrolyte migrates into the concrete. Preferably, lithium ions are dissolved in the non-aqueous electrolyte.

A reinforced concrete structure comprising a hardened concrete containing at least one steel reinforcement, a plurality of anode cavities and interconnecting slots formed within the hardened concrete, with the interconnecting slots interconnecting adjacent anode cavities with one another. A discrete galvanic anode is installed within each of the anode cavities. At least one connector for connecting the plurality of discrete galvanic anodes with the at least one steel reinforcement. A plurality of interconnecting galvanic anodes which each comprises a metallic element which has an interconnecting connector extending from opposed ends thereof. Each of the interconnecting galvanic anodes is installed within a respective interconnecting slot. First and second ends of the interconnecting connector are respectively connected to adjacent first and second discrete galvanic anodes. Each interconnecting galvanic anode contains sufficient sacrificial metal to increase a total protection current delivered to the steel reinforcement.

A passive cathodic protection process for preservation of em bedded metallic foundations entails embedding a wrap around a metallic foundation. The wrap has an outer sheath and an inner absorbent mat to be in direct contact with the metallic foundation. The is also mat hydrophobic. The wrap is subsumed such that an upper edge of the wrap is accessible. An oil-based metallic soap is injected via the upper edge to impregnate the mat. The metallic soap is selected from a set of metallic soaps such that the metal of the metallic soap is more electropositive than the metal of the metallic foundation such that the metallic soap acts as an anodic solution for galvanic exchange with metal within the em bedded metallic foundation for the passive cathodic protection thereof. For example, zinc naphthenate may be selected for steel or aluminium foundations thereby allowing for both passive cathodic protection and biocidal action.

Provided are a carbon fiber textile reinforcing material with an anode metal line which can be repaired and reinforced with a high stiffness and non-corrosive carbon fiber textile by disposing a carbon fiber textile reinforcing material with an anodic metal line functioning as a conductor and a reinforcing material on a deteriorated cross-section of concrete, can maximize repair and reinforcement of a reinforced concrete structure by preventing additional corrosion of a concrete embedded reinforcing bar using a sacrificial anode arranged on the carbon fiber textile, can prevent corrosion of an existing reinforced concrete structure and can be used as a reinforcing material and a corrosion preventing material of a new concrete structure, and a method for repairing and reinforcing a reinforced concrete structure using the same.

Provided are a system and method for reinforcing and protecting a reinforced concrete structure in which a reinforced concrete structure is divided and corrosion factors of the divided cross-sectional regions are monitored to automatically supply a protection current to each of the divided cross-sectional regions, thereby actively performing protection of the reinforced concrete structure, and also, by adjusting the level of a protection current according to the progression of corrosion in each divided cross-sectional region of the reinforced concrete structure, power consumption required for protection is optimized and protection is effectively performed, and also by disposing a carbon fiber textile grid in the surface of the reinforced concrete structure to be employed as both a reinforcement member and an anode of the reinforced concrete structure, microcracking which may occur in concrete curing is inhibited and thus permeation of moisture or a chloride into the surface thereof is prevented.

A spacer element is provided to support an anode on a metallic reinforcement bar, such as a rebar. The spacer element includes a bar supporting body and an adjustable fastening body that are integrally formed, and a separate anode supporting body that is connectable to the bar supporting body. The bar supporting body includes a circumferential wall having resilient tines that extend radially inwardly to engage the rebar. The adjustable fastening body includes a toothed rib that is engageable with a toothed portion of the circumferential wall to contract the circumferential wall securely around the inserted rebar. The rib may be disengaged from the circumferential wall to open the wall and enable insertion of the rebar. The anode supporting body has a resilient prong that is rotatable when received in the bar supporting body enabling the anode supporting body to be rotatable relative to the bar supporting body.

In a method for cathodically protecting and/or passivating a metal section in an ionically conductive material such as steel reinforcement in concrete or mortar, an impressed current or sacrificial anode communicates ionic current to the metal section and a storage component of electrical energy which can be a cell, battery or capacitor is provided as a component of the anode. A current limiter is provided which prevents excess current draining the supply. This can be a semi-conductive device such as a transistor or diode is connected in the path from the anode to the metal section to limit the cathodic protection current to a value of the order of 1 milliamp. When a diode or similar device is used the current can be limited to the reverse leakage current of the diode.