Sealed Glass Ceramic Powered Anode Assemblage and Method For Impressed Current Cathodic Protection

Abstract

A method of using an assemblage that is comprised in part by utilizing a ceramic material to form a glass-to-metal seal for the purpose of the impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) of a structure. Until this invention, ICCP assemblages have utilized polymer seals which can often fail during use due to heat or thermal cycling. This new method is able to mitigate these detrimental environmental factors, thereby enhancing the reliability and longevity of the ICCP system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of using a ceramic material element to fixture an electrically conductive metal element inside a stainless steel element for application to structures in contact with an electrolyte for the purpose of utilizing an electrical current to control the corrosion of said structure by the method of impressed current cathodic protection, the method including creation of an assemblage comprising:
 providing a stainless steel element with an internal passageway through its body;   placing an electrically conductive metal element within the internal passageway of said stainless steel element such that contact is not made between the two elements;   introducing a ceramic material element within the internal passageway of said stainless steel element;   heating the aforementioned components to a temperature at which the ceramic material element undergoes sufficient softening to facilitate intimate contact between the stainless steel element and the electrically conductive metal element to form an environmental seal between said assembly elements and to environmentally seal the internal passageway of the stainless steel element;   cooling the assembly to solidify the ceramic material element thereby fixing the elements of the assembly together, resulting in the formation of an assemblage.   
     
     
         2 . The assemblage of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive metal element is electrically accessible on either end of the stainless steel element after having been formed into an assemblage. 
     
     
         3 . The assemblage of  claim 1 , wherein, in open air, 6 mA or less electrical current is transferred to the stainless steel element when the electrically conductive metal element is connected to 3-volts of direct-current electrical potential, thereby signifying a degree of electrical isolation of the stainless steel element from the electrically conductive metal element. 
     
     
         4 . The assemblage of  claim 1 , wherein the stainless steel element of the assembly has male threads for the purpose of installation into matching female threads. 
     
     
         5 . The assemblage of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature point of sufficient softening of the ceramic material element to fixture the elements of the assemblage to each other is greater than 200-degrees celsius and less than 1800-degrees celsius. 
     
     
         6 . An assemblage for application to structures in contact with an electrolyte for the purpose of utilizing an electrical current to control the corrosion of said structure by the method of impressed current cathodic protection, the assemblage comprising:
 a stainless steel element provided with an internal passageway that pierces as a through-hole the entirety its body;   an electrically conductive element within the stainless steel element;   a ceramic material placed internal to the stainless steel element which has sufficiently intimate contact with both the stainless steel element and the electrically conductive element such that all the elements are fixtured to each other and form an assemblage.   
     
     
         7 . The assemblage of  claim 6 , wherein one or more of the elements comprising the assembly is of sufficient electrically insulative quality so as to substantively prevent short circuit of electrical current from the assembly's internal electrically conductive element to an electrically conductive structure to which it is installed upon, except by a path found through an electrolyte. 
     
     
         8 . The assemblage of  claim 6 , wherein the electrically conductive element is comprised of one or more of the following materials: titanium, platinum, tungsten, iron, nickel, or an iron-nickel alloy. 
     
     
         9 . A method for producing an assemblage for the use of delivering an electrical current to an electrolyte for the purpose of controlling corrosion, the method comprising:
 providing a rigid element containing an internal passageway through its body;   providing an electrically conductive element placed within the internal passageway of said rigid element;   providing that a ceramic material is a part of the assemblage elements: as a third element of the assemblage which is present between the electrically conductive element and the rigid element, or providing said ceramic material as the composition of the aforementioned rigid element or providing said ceramic material as the composition of the aforementioned electrically conductive element, or providing said ceramic material as the composition of all or a combination of the elements of the assemblage;   heating the aforementioned elements to a temperature at which the ceramic material has sufficient deformation to form intimate contact with a portion of the assembly elements;   cooling the assembly to the solid material state of the ceramic material thereby fixturing the elements of the assembly to each other to form an assemblage.   
     
     
         10 . The assemblage of  claim 9 , wherein the rigid element composition is of sufficient electrically insulative quality so as to substantively prevent short circuit of electrical current from the assembly's internal electrically conductive element to the structure it is installed upon, excluding an electrical path found through electrolyte. 
     
     
         11 . The assemblage of  claim 9 , wherein the rigid element is made of a ceramic material or a metal. 
     
     
         12 . The assemblage of  claim 9 , wherein the rigid element is comprised of stainless steel. 
     
     
         13 . The assemblage of  claim 9 , wherein the ceramic material is able to fuse to itself solely due to heat and contact, at a temperature between 200-degrees celsius and 1800-degrees celsius. 
     
     
         14 . The assemblage of  claim 9 , wherein the ceramic element forms an environmental seal around the electrically conductive element and to the rigid element in the areas of a passageway in the rigid element that is used to house the electrically conductive element. 
     
     
         15 . The assemblage of  claim 9 , wherein the electrically conductive element is electrically accessible at both ends of the rigid element, allowing for connection to electric potential from either end. 
     
     
         16 . The assemblage of  claim 9 , wherein the electrically conductive element serves as both a path of electrical current through the passageway of the rigid element, and as an electrode for contact with an electrolyte. 
     
     
         17 . The assemblage of  claim 9 , wherein a portion of the electrically conductive element is connected to an electrode intended for contact with electrolyte. 
     
     
         18 . The assemblage of  claim 9 , wherein the electrically conductive element is comprised in whole or in part of titanium, platinum, tungsten, Iron, Nickel, or Iron-nickel alloy. 
     
     
         19 . The assemblage of  claim 9 , wherein the electrically conductive element is comprised of an electrically conductive ceramic material. 
     
     
         20 . The assemblage of  claim 9 , wherein the ceramic material is heated to a temperature at which point said ceramic material is able to wet elements it is in contact with.