What is the general anode efficiency rating of zinc?

The general anode efficiency rating of zinc is considered to be around 90%. This high efficiency reflects zinc's effectiveness as a sacrificial anode in cathodic protection systems. Sacrificial anodes, such as zinc, provide electrons to the cathodic sites of a structure, thus helping protect it from corrosion.

When zinc is used as an anode, it corrodingly sacrifices itself, which drives the corrosion reactions away from the protected metal. The efficiency rating indicates how much of the anode's capacity is effectively used in protecting the metal substrate. A rating of 90% means that a significant majority of the zinc is utilized in its protective role, minimizing waste and enhancing the longevity of the anode in service.

Understanding this efficiency is crucial for corrosion engineering and assessing the long-term performance of cathodic protection systems, especially when considering material costs and maintenance schedules.