When an offshore structure is lowered into the sea, it’s often the small, unseen components that play a crucial role in protecting it from corrosion.
Sacrificial anodes from BAC Impalloy are just such components – designed to deliver effective, long-term protection without anyone ever needing to think about them again. But that kind of reliability requires uncompromising quality assurance behind the scenes.
Quality in Every Layer – From Raw Metal to Finished Anode
At BAC Impalloy, ensuring that every single anode meets strict standards for performance, durability, and documentation is part of the daily routine. The quality process doesn’t begin with the finished product – it starts with the selection of raw materials.
Only raw metal of high purity is accepted, as even tiny amounts of certain impurities – especially iron – can reduce the anode’s negative potential and, in the worst case, render it ineffective. That’s why all incoming materials are thoroughly inspected, and the quality team has the authority to halt production immediately if any doubt arises.
Every Day Begins with a Spark
One of the core tasks in the lab is the daily chemical analysis of the alloy. Twice a day – in the morning and afternoon – samples are taken and analyzed using an OES spectrometer. This technology ignites an electric spark, which reflects electromagnetic energy from the alloy. Each element has a unique energy signature that the machine detects.
Only once the morning sample is approved does production get the green light. This ensures that every casting starts with the right chemical composition – and thus the correct properties.
Saltwater Testing: When the Metal Must Prove Itself
Another key quality control step is the 96-hour electrochemical test, where a sample anode is submerged in artificial seawater. Current is passed through the system to simulate and evaluate the anode’s performance under conditions similar to those on the seafloor.
The sample is weighed before and after with precision down to five decimal places to measure exactly how much material has been consumed – which shows the anode’s protective capacity. At the same time, the surface potential is measured three times a day to ensure full compliance with standards from DNV, NACE, and others.
Reliability That Demands No Attention
The goal of BAC Impalloy’s quality work is simple: to deliver a product that performs perfectly – and that no one needs to worry about again. The sacrificial anodes operate silently beneath the surface, but behind them lies meticulous testing and inspection work that ensures reliable protection, even under the harshest conditions.
