Cathodic protection is 200 years old​

Our materials specialists have been using cathodic protection to save structures for decades. As the technology celebrates its 200th anniversary we explore their pioneering work.

The discovery of cathodic protection 200 years ago remains critically important to the structures of today and tomorrow. In our latest podcast with Engineering Matters our award winning materials team describe how they have been pioneering the transfer of this technology since the 1990s, from ships and pipelines to bridges and buildings.

Their innovative work is extending the life of critical assets by decades. By doing so, not only are they saving asset owners all over the world millions of pounds in repair and replacement costs, they are also avoiding the consumption of resources and associated carbon emissions. Cathodic protection has a major role to play in sustainability.

The podcast explores some incredible projects including the protection of a magnificent heritage structure, the Silver Jubilee Bridge, in northwest England. Originally known as the Runcorn-Widnes Bridge it was designed by Mott, Hay & Anderson in the 1950s and was completed in 1961. The original engineers James Kenneth Anderson and Vernon Bartlett could not have predicted a trend that came in after it was built: this was the use of de-icing salts. The chlorides in these went on to attack the concrete piers leading to corrosion of the steel reinforcement.

To save the structure Mott MacDonald had the novel idea of applying cathodic protection to the piers and bridge deck. The work was a great success, winning awards all over the world.

Listen now to find out more and hear from our experts: head of materials and corrosion technology Paul Lambert, divisional director Ray Langley, senior associate for materials Rudi Merola and graduate materials engineer Sairah Qureshi.