Effect of Large Fouling Organisms on the Protection Effectiveness of High-strength Steel Sacrificial Anodes and Hydrogen Permeation

WANG Yuxin; HUANG Yanliang; HOU Xiaoyu; CAI Fanfan; PU Jiayan; XIN Yu

doi:10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.04.007

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Surface Technology ›› 2026, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (4) : 74-86. DOI: 10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.04.007

Effect of Large Fouling Organisms on the Protection Effectiveness of High-strength Steel Sacrificial Anodes and Hydrogen Permeation

WANG Yuxin^1,2, HUANG Yanliang^1,2,*, HOU Xiaoyu^1,2, CAI Fanfan^1,2, PU Jiayan^1,2, XIN Yu^1,2

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Abstract

The work aims to innovatively examine the impact of the attachment and detachment of large fouling organisms on the sacrificial anode protection efficiency and hydrogen permeation behavior of high-strength steel, revealing the underlying interaction mechanisms.
Unique real seawater exposure experiments were conducted in the semi-diurnal tidal area of Jiaozhou Bay, Qingdao, where the average temperature was 13.7 ℃, salinity was 31.5 psu, and pH was 8.3. High-strength steel samples were divided into two groups: one group was shielded with 200-mesh nylon nets to prevent the attachment of large fouling organisms, while the other group was exposed directly to the natural seawater environment. Both groups were equipped with zinc rods for sacrificial anode protection. An improved Devanathan-Stachurski double electrolytic cell was used for in situ hydrogen permeation monitoring in real seawater. Steel plates, 0.5 mm thick with nickel-plated inner surfaces, were sealed into sensors and exposed to seawater. A constant potential (0 V vs. Hg/HgO) was applied through a multi-channel potentiometer to record the hydrogen oxidation current density, which directly reflected the permeation flux. Electrochemical characterization included real-time electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) at -1.04 V vs. SCE (100 kHz-10 mHz, ±10 mV sine wave) and potentiodynamic polarization curves (±300 mV vs. open circuit potential) and the scan rate was 0.167 mV/s. The test conducted with a portable workstation confirmed that the attached organisms remained active during the tests. Corrosion products and morphologies were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD, Cu Kα, 5°-80°), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Corroded surfaces were observed after ultrasonic pickling in 20vol% HCl + 1vol% C₆H₁₂N₄ solution.
The experimental results revealed variations in localized corrosion caused by different types of fouling. The depths of corrosion pits resulting from soft fouling—ascidians and seagrass—were 47.155 μm and 28 μm, respectively. In contrast, the damage from hard fouling was more severe, with mussels causing pits of 58.45 μm, barnacles 68.4 μm, and oysters 90 μm. Additionally, there were distinct differences in pit morphology among these fouling types. The attachment of fouling organisms weakened the efficiency of sacrificial anode protection: the charge transfer resistance decreased from 9 953 Ω·cm² to 1 939 Ω·cm². Additionally, the corrosion current density of the non-fouling group (0.695 μA·cm²) was significantly lower than that of the fouling group (0.912 μA·cm²), confirming the reduced effectiveness of sacrificial anode protection. The presence of large fouling organisms also altered the composition of corrosion products: Fe₃O₄ and FeS increased significantly in fouled samples, whereas non-fouled samples were dominated by CaCO₃ and Fe₂O₃. Notably, Fe₃O₄ acted as a "large cathode", accelerating corrosion in unprotected areas, while FeS was produced through anaerobic microbial metabolism (SO₄^2- → HS^- + Fe²⁺ → FeS). More importantly, fouling attachment significantly enhanced hydrogen permeation: the average hydrogen permeation current density increased from 0.638 μA·cm² in the non-fouling group to 0.806 μA·cm² in the fouling group, and the diffusible hydrogen concentration rose from 1.115 mmol/kg to 1.408 mmol/kg.
The main ways to increase the hydrogen permeation of high-strength steel by the adhesion of fouling organisms include microbial metabolism, hydrolysis of corrosion products and cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction caused by local acidification.

Key words

large fouling organisms / high-strength steel / hydrogen permeation / sacrificial anode / marine corrosion / localized corrosion

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WANG Yuxin, HUANG Yanliang, HOU Xiaoyu, CAI Fanfan, PU Jiayan, XIN Yu. Effect of Large Fouling Organisms on the Protection Effectiveness of High-strength Steel Sacrificial Anodes and Hydrogen Permeation[J]. Surface Technology. 2026, 55(4): 74-86

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