48 Global Journal on Advances in Pure & Applied Sciences Issue 6 (2015) 48-57 Selected Paper of Global Conference on Materials Sciences (GC-MAS-2014), 13-15 November 2014, Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Kemer, Antalya, Turkey Effects of high potential cathodic protection on fusion bond epoxy (Fbe) coated steel Fawzi ElHamshri *, Faculty of Engineering, Chemical Engineering Department, Al-Margeb University, Garabolli, Libya. Hamza A. Khalfalla, Faculty of Engineering, Chemical Engineering Department, Al-Margeb University, Garabolli, Libya. Mohamed M. Aboabboud, Department Faculty of Engineering, Chemical Engineering Department, Al-Margeb University, Garabolli, Libya. Suggested Citation: ElHamshri, F., Khalfalla, H., A. & Aboabboud, M., M. (2015). Effects of high potential cathodic protection on fusion bond epoxy (Fbe) coated steel, Global Journal on Advances in Pure & Applied Sciences. [Online]. 06, pp 48-57. Available from: http://www.world-education-center.org/index.php/paas Received May 10, 2014; revised July 04, 2014; accepted September 16, 2014. Selection and peer review under responsibility of Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Dogan. ©2015 Academic World Education & Research Center. All rights reserved. Abstract Since the 1960s, many users have reported successful application of coatings in combination with cathodic protection on buried and/or immersed structures such as oil pipelines and offshore platforms [1, 5]. There are several advantages with this combination. The coating ensures an even current distribution and rapid polarization after immersion. However, the most important effect is that the coating reduces the current demand for cathodic protection, and the total anode weight therefore can be reduced. According to the recommendation of Det NORSOK Veritas (DNV),[6] the anode weight can be reduced by 50% to 70%, depending on the coating and design life, as compared to an uncoated structure. The major uncertainty with using coatings in combination with cathodic protection is the degradation of the coating with time. Physical damage in the coating, blistering, and cathodic disbondment from holidays in the coating will reduce the ability of the coating to insulate the steel from the environment (e.g. seawater and very corrosive soil). This will increase the current demand for cathodic protection. Thus, when cathodic protection is designed for a coated structure, the coating breakdown must be taken into consideration. DNV[6] and NORSOK[7] have recommended coating breakdown rates to be used for design of cathodic protection. Keywords: cathodic disbondment, holiday, polarization, current demand * ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Fawzi ElHamshri, Faculty of Engineering, Chemical Engineering Department, Al- Margeb University, Garabolli, Libya. E-mail address: fhamshri2003@yahoo.com / Tel.: +218 91 3436832