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In the current industrial production sector, sacrificial anodes are one of the most widely used corrosion protection products. They are frequently applied in underwater and underground environments without causing water pollution. However, there are many types of sacrificial anode products available today. So, how much do you know about the backfill arrangement of sacrificial anodes? Let’s take a look at the following introduction.
1. Sacrificial Anode Backfill**
Chemical backfill consists of multiple components. Some formulations contain a high proportion of soluble salts, which dissolve and wash away over time, reducing the backfill volume. While the initial performance may be good, as the salts leach out, the grounding resistance of the sacrificial anode bed gradually increases. Gypsum powder is a crucial component for improving the performance of Zn and Mg sacrificial anodes, activating them and ensuring uniform dissolution. Therefore, years of practical experience have proven that the optimal backfill formula for magnesium and zinc sacrificial anodes is the following weight ratio: **Gypsum : Bentonite : Sodium Sulfate = 75 : 20 : 5**.
2. Arrangement of Sacrificial Anodes**
Sacrificial anodes can be installed individually or in groups. When installed in groups, the mutual influence of electric fields causes the total current output of multiple anodes to be far less than the sum of their individual outputs, significantly reducing efficiency. Increasing the spacing between grouped anodes affects the uniformity of protection potential distribution. In contrast, **individual, dispersed placement** improves anode utilization and ensures more uniform potential distribution due to reduced spacing. Practical applications have proven this method to be superior to grouped arrangements.
3. Application of Ribbon Magnesium Anodes
Ribbon magnesium anodes are made from high-purity magnesium or magnesium-manganese alloys, with a highly negative potential (-1.7V), making them suitable for **high-resistivity environments** (e.g., soil with resistivity >100 Ω·m). They weigh **0.37 kg/m**, and due to their large surface area relative to weight, they provide high current output. For example:
- In soil with **50 Ω·m resistivity**, output current is **10 mA/m**.
- In freshwater with **150 Ω·m resistivity**, output current is **3 mA/m**.
This shows that they are **not suitable for low-resistivity environments**, as they would corrode too quickly. Whether ribbon anodes can be used inside pipeline casings depends on the resistivity of the medium inside. If the medium has low resistivity, the ribbon anode will deplete too rapidly, making block-shaped anodes a better choice for long-term protection, as they last longer and are more cost-effective. Ribbon magnesium anodes are more suitable for **temporary protection** or for pre-polarizing steel surfaces in short-term applications.
If you want to learn more about sacrificial anodes, visit **Suzhou Bogo Sacrificial Anode Manufacturing Co., Ltd.** This company specializes in the R&D and production of various anti-corrosion products, especially sacrificial anodes, with extensive experience. Their high-quality products deliver outstanding performance and practical utility, playing a significant role in industrial production and engineering projects. As a result, they have earned high praise in the industry and have become the most trusted sacrificial anode supplier in the region.
