Development of nickel incorporated aluminum alloy matrix as an efficient sacrificial anode

Al-Zn + Ni matrix anodes were fabricated using Ni as activator. The Al-Zn + Ni anodes had good physico-chemical characteristics. Reinforcement by Ni resulted in improvement in grain size of the metal-metal matrix. The effect of Ni on the galvanic performance of the anodes was evaluated based on several electrochemical methods. Incorporation of Al-Zn anodes with Ni caused an increase in the galvanic performance. Breakdown of the passive oxide film was facilitated by the presence of nickel. The optimum Ni content to achieve maximum galvanic performance was 2.00 +/- 0.25 mg cm(-3). The developed Ni-reinforced metal-metal matrix anodes showed excellent electrochemical characteristics as efficient sacrificial anodes.