EXPANDED METAL MESH AND COATED ANODE STRUCTURE

摘要

EXPANDED METAL MESH AND COATED ANODE STRUCTURE This invention relates generally to an electrically conductive valve metal mesh of extreme void fraction. In a most important aspect the invention relates to an application of the mesh as an electrode structure in such a way as to prevent the corrosion of steel, including reinforcing steel in concrete, by cathodic protection. To prepare the electrode structure, coiled metal mesh of the present invention is coated with an electrocatalytic coating from liquid composition. The coating operation can proceed by contacting the mesh with liquid coating composition while the mesh is maintained in coiled form. This highly efficient coating method is continued through a curing operation while further maintaining the coated mesh in coiled form. The coated mesh can later be uncoiled and current distributors welded to it for use as an electrode, e.g., in cathodic protection.