Ministry of Defence

Defence Standard 02-704 (NES 704)

Issue 1 Publication Date 01 April 2000

Requirements For Cathodic Protection

Part 5
General Information On
Bi-Metallic Couples

Incorporating NES 704 Category 2

Issue 3 Publication Date August 1990

AMENDMENT RECORD
Amd No

Date

Text Affected

REVISION NOTE
This standard is raised to Issue 1 to update its content.
HISTORICAL RECORD
This standard supersedes the following:
Naval Engineering Standard (NES) 704 Part 5 Issue 3 dated August 1990.

Signature and Date

Ministry of Defence

Naval Engineering Standard

NES 704

Part 5

Issue 3 (Reformatted)

August 1990

REQUIREMENTS FOR CATHODIC PROTECTION

PART 5
GENERAL INFORMATION ON
BI-METALLIC COUPLES

This NES Supersedes

NES 704 PART 5 ISSUE 2

Record of Amendments
AMDT
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

INSERTED BY
INCORPORATED

DATE

NAVAL ENGINEERING STANDARD 704

REQUIREMENTS FOR CATHODIC PROTECTION
PART 5
ISSUE 3 (REFORMATTED)
GENERAL INFORMATION ON BI-METALLIC COUPLES

The issue and use of this Standard

is authorized for use in MOD contracts
by MOD(PE) Sea Systems and
the Naval Support Command

ECROWN COPYRIGHT
Published by:
Director of Naval Architecture
Procurement Executive, Ministry of Defence
Sea Systems, Foxhill, Bath BA1 5AB
i

ii

NES 704
Part 5
Issue 3 (Reformatted)

SCOPE
1.

Part 5 of this NES covers general information on Bi-metallic couples, those to be used as
cathodic protection and those to be avoided.

iii

NES 704
Part 5
Issue 3 (Reformatted)

iv

NES 704
Part 5
Issue 3 (Reformatted)

FOREWORD
Sponsorship
1.

This Naval Engineering Standard (NES) is sponsored by the Procurement Executive, Ministry
of Defence, Chief Naval Architect (CNA), Section NA 132.

2.

It is to be applied as required by any Ministry of Defence contract for cathodic protection of

HM Surface Ships and Submarines. The various systems and methods used in a design of a
cathodic protection system for fitting in HM Ships and Submarines are described; systems
include Sacrificial Anode (or Self-energized) and Impressed Current. For more detailed
information on the theory of cathodic protection, reference should be made to BS CP1021.

3.

NES 704 comprises:

Requirement for Cathodic Protection
Part 1

Systems General.

Part 2

Impressed Current Cathodic Protection System.

Part 3

Sacrificial Anode Self-energized System.

Part 4

Ships Fitting-out; Ships in Refit or Laid-up.

Part 5

General Information on Bi-metallic Couples.

4.

If it is found to be technically unsuitable for any particular requirement the Sponsor is to be

informed in writing of the circumstances with a copy to CNA, Section NA 145.

5.

Any user of this NES either within MOD or in industry may propose an amendment to it.
Proposals for amendments which are:
a.

not directly applicable to a particular contract are to be made to the Sponsor of the NES;

b.

directly applicable to a particular contract are to be dealt with using existing procedures
or as specified in the contract.

6.

No alteration is to be made to this NES except by the issue of a formal amendment.

7.

Unless otherwise stated, reference in this NES to approval, approved, authorized or similar
terms, means by the Ministry of Defence.

Conditions of Release
General
8.

This Naval Engineering Standard (NES) has been prepared for the use of the Crown and of
its contractors in the execution of contracts for the Crown. The Crown hereby excludes all
liability (other than liability for death or personal injury) whatsoever and howsoever arising
(including but without limitation, negligence on the part of the Crown, its servants or agents)
for any loss or damage however caused where the NES is used for any other purpose.

9.

This document is Crown Copyright and the information herein may be subject to Crown or
third party rights. It is not to be released, reproduced or published without written permission
of the MOD.

NES 704
Part 5
Issue 3 (Reformatted)

10.

The Crown reserves the right to amend or modify the contents of this NES without consulting
or informing any holder.

MOD Tender or Contract Process

11.

This NES is the property of the Crown and unless otherwise authorized in writing by the MOD
must be returned on completion of the contract, or submission of the tender, in connection
with which it is issued.

12.

When this NES is used in connection with a MOD tender or contract, the user is to ensure that
he is in possession of the appropriate version of each document, including related documents,
relevant to each particular tender or contract. Enquiries in this connection may be made of
the local MOD(PE) Quality Assurance Representative or the Authority named in the tender
or contract.

13.

When NES are incorporated into MOD contracts, users are responsible for their correct
application and for complying with contracts and any other statutory requirements.
Compliance with an NES does not of itself confer immunity from legal obligations.

Related Documents
14.

In the tender and procurement processes the related documents listed in each section and
Annex A can be obtained as follows:
a.

British Standards

British Standards Institution,

389 Chiswick High Road,
London W4 4AL

b.

Defence Standards

Directorate of Standardization and Safety Policy,

Stan 1, Kentigern House, 65 Brown Street,
Glasgow G2 8EX

c.

Naval Engineering Standards

CSE3a, CSE Llangennech, Llanelli,

Dyfed SA14 8YP

d.

Other documents

Tender or Contract Sponsor to advise.

Note: Tender or Contract Sponsor can advise in cases of difficulty.

15.

All applications to Ministry Establishments for related documents are to quote the relevant
MOD Invitation to Tender or Contract Number and date, together with the sponsoring
Directorate and the Tender or Contract Sponsor.

16.

Prime Contractors are responsible for supplying their subcontractors with relevant
documentation, including specifications, standards and drawings.

Health and Safety

Warning
17.

This NES may call for the use of processes, substances and/or procedures that may be injurious
to health if adequate precautions are not taken. It refers only to technical suitability and in
no way absolves either the supplier or the user from statutory obligations relating to health
and safety at any stage of manufacture or use. Where attention is drawn to hazards, those
quoted may not necessarily be exhaustive.

vi

NES 704
Part 5
Issue 3 (Reformatted)

CONTENTS
Page No

TITLE PAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

iii

FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sponsorship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Conditions of Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MOD Tender or Contract Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Related Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Health and Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

v
v
v
v
vi
vi
vi
vi

CONTENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

vii

SECTION

GENERAL INFORMATION AND TABLES . . . . .

TABLE 1.1 POTENTIALS IN SEA WATER
(AGAINST ICE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
TABLE 1.2 GALVANIC SERIES IN SEA WATER
TABLE 1.3 ACCELERATION FACTORS FOR
CORROSION DUE TO DISSIMILAR METAL
COUPLING IN FLOWING SEAWATER
(ACCELERATION FACTOR FOR COUPLED
MATERIAL UNLESS INDICATED BY SUFFIXES
OF THE APPROPRIATE SYMBOL FOR THE
OTHER MATERIAL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
TABLE 1.4 COMPARISON OF POTENTIALS
USING ZINC, COPPER/COPPER SULPHATE
AND SILVER/SILVER CHLORIDE, REFERENCE
ELECTRODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.1

1.

1.2
1.3

1.4

1.5

ANNEX

A.

RELATED DOCUMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A.1

ANNEX

B.

DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS . . . . . . . .

B.1

ALPHABETICAL INDEX

vii

NES 704
Part 5
Issue 3 (Reformatted)

viii

NES 704
Part 5
Issue 3 (Reformatted)

1.

GENERAL INFORMATION AND TABLES

a.

Defence Standard 012 and BR 3008 give data sheets for various materials in
use in HM Ships.

b.

TABLE 1.1 shows the open circuit potentials of various metals in flowing sea
water at a temperature of 25 C. In order to minimize the bi-metallic corrosion
that may take place, very careful consideration must be given to the selection
of materials used. Great care must be taken to avoid a pair of materials (coupled)
having a potential difference of more than 0.25 volts.

c.

The open circuit potentials given in TABLE 1.1 will vary in sea water due to any
of the following factors and hence considerable variations in measured
potentials of materials is possible and the Table should only be used as a guide
to selection:
(1)

Temperature of sea water.

(2)

Flow rate of sea water.

(3)

Composition of sea waterespecially oxygen content and pollutants such

as sulphides.

(4)

Corrosion product filmsthickness and composition.

(5)

Metallurgical structure of alloys and inclusions.

(6)

Surface condition of material (eg heat treatment, welds, roughness).

(7)

Mechanical history of material (eg type of workingdrawing, rolling,

forging).

d.

TABLE 1.2 gives the Galvanic Series in sea water. This shows the relative
positions of various metals and alloys. The materials at the upper end of the
Table will sacrifice to protect those below them (eg Aluminium will sacrifice to
protect Gunmetal or Phosphor Bronze).

e.

TABLE 1.3 is a summary of work carried out on Bi-metallic corrosion and shows
the depth of corrosion which can be expected when coupling metals in sea water.

f.

Some useful information on the corrosion of sea water cooling system is given
in BR 1254.

g.

TABLE 1.4 shows the different potentials obtained when using zinc,
copper/copper sulphate and silver/silver chloride reference electrodes.

1.1

NES 704
Part 5
Issue 3 (Reformatted)

TABLE 1.1 POTENTIALS IN SEA WATER (AGAINST ICE)

1.2

NES 704
Part 5
Issue 3 (Reformatted)

LEAST NOBLE
(ie ANODIC, SACRIFICIAL)
Magnesium
Zinc
Aluminium Alloy
Cadmium
Low Carbon Steel and Mild Steel
Alloy Steel
Cast Iron
Stainless Steel (Active)
7030 Brass
Admiralty Brass
Aluminium Brass
8515 Brass
Copper
Nickel Aluminium Bronze and Aluminium Silicon Bronze
Gunmetal and Phosphor Bronze
9010 Copper Nickel Alloy
7030 Copper Nickel Alloy (Low Iron)
7030 Copper Nickel Alloy (High Iron)
Nickel
Inconel*
Silver
Stainless Steel (Passive)
Monel*
Hastelloy*
Titanium
Platinum
Graphite
* Trade Mark
MOST NOBLE
(ie CATHODIC, PROTECTED)
TABLE 1.2 GALVANIC SERIES IN SEA WATER

1.3

Coupled
p
Material (M)
( )

Carbon (C)

Titanium (Ti)

Copper (Cu)

Mild Steel (MS)

Aluminium (Al)

1.4

10C:1M

1C:1M

1C:10M

10Ti:1M

1Ti:1M

1Ti:10M

10Cu:1M

1Cu:1M

1Cu:10M

10MS:1M

1MS:1M

1MS:10M

10Al:1M

1Al:1M

1Al:10M

Zinc

0.05

35

20

35

20

10

20

10

SIC Aluminium

0.008

200

85

10

30

30

100

20

80

20

NS4 aluminium

0.01

200

85

10

30

30

100

20

80

20

H30 Aluminium

0.008

200

85

10

30

30

100

20

80

20

1Al

2Al

10Al

Mild Steel

0.15

10

2Al

20Al

80Al

HY80 Steel

0.10

10

1MS

1MS

3MS

2Al

40Al

100Al

*Ni-Resist (Type Aus 202

spheroidal)

0.05

10

1MS

1MS

3MS

2Al

40Al

100Al

Tin

0.01

75

20

1MS

2MS

5MS

2Al

20Al

60Al

Lead

0.01

20

1**

1MS

2MS

5MS

2Al

20Al

60Al

++Naval brass

0.04

50

1MS

3MS

7MS

2Al

20Al

100Al

Aluminium brass

0.01

50

1MS

3MS

7MS

2Al

20Al

100Al

++Aluminium bronze (10% Al)

0.02

25

1Cu

1MS

3MS

7MS

2Al

20Al

100Al

++Silicon aluminium bronze

0.015

50

1MS

3MS

7MS

2Al

20Al

100Al

++Nickel aluminium bronze

0.015

15

1Cu

2Cu

1Cu

1MS

3MS

7MS

2Al

20Al

100Al

Silicon bronze

0.035

40

10

1Cu

1Cu

1Cu

1MS

3MS

7MS

2Al

20Al

100Al

Copper

0.03

40

10

1MS

3MS

7MS

2Al

20Al

100Al

Phosphor bronze (5% Sn)

0.02

25

10

1Cu

2Cu

1Cu

1MS

3MS

7MS

2Al

20Al

100Al

*Phosphor bronze (10% Sn)

0.02

15

1Cu

2Cu

1Cu

1MS

3MS

7MS

2Al

20Al

100Al

*Gun metal LG4

0.035

10

1Cu

1Cu

1Cu

1MS

3MS

7MS

2Al

20Al

100Al

*Hiduron 501

0.02

25

1MS

3MS

7MS

2Al

20Al

100Al

90/10 Cupro-nickel (1% Fe)

0.02

15

1MS

3MS

7MS

2Al

20Al

100Al

70/30 Cupro-nickel (1% Fe)

0.02

10

1Cu

1Cu

2Cu

1MS

3MS

7MS

2Al

20Al

100Al

CNNS Cupro-nickel

0.02

10

1Cu

1Cu

2Cu

1MS

3MS

7MS

2Al

20Al

100Al

IN732 Cupro-nickel

0.02

10

1Cu

1Cu

2Cu

1MS

3MS

7MS

2Al

20Al

100Al

+Monel 400

0.005

1Cu

1Cu

10Cu

1MS

3MS

7M

2Al

20Al

100Al

+Stainless steel Type 316

0.005

1Cu

2Cu

10Cu

1MS

3MS

7MS

2Al

20Al

100Al

*/+Ferralium 40V

0.005

1Cu

2Cu

10Cu

1MS

3MS

7MS

2Al

20Al

100Al

Titanium

0.001

1Cu

5Cu

10Cu

1MS

2MS

5MS

2Al

30Al

30Al

1Ti

1Ti

2Ti

1Cu

8Cu

40Cu

2MS

4MS

10MS

10Al

85Al

200Al

Carbon (Acheson YAV Graphite)

NOTE:

**
++
+
*

Results based on 100 hour tests for materials which can undergo polarity reversals.
Acceleration Factors are subject to change due to variable complex microstructure.
These materials are subject to crevice corrosion.
Materials in case formothers in wrought form.
The box indicates where copper is the base metal in the couple material.

TABLE 1.3 ACCELERATION FACTORS FOR CORROSION DUE TO DISSIMILAR METAL COUPLING IN FLOWING SEAWATER
(ACCELERATION FACTOR FOR COUPLED MATERIAL UNLESS INDICATED BY SUFFIXES OF THE APPROPRIATE SYMBOL FOR THE
OTHER MATERIAL)

NES 704
Part 5
Issue 3 (Reformatted)

Acceleration Factors
Uncoupled
Corrosion Rate
(mm/year)

NES 704
Part 5
Issue 3 (Reformatted)

TABLE 1.4 COMPARISON OF POTENTIALS USING ZINC, COPPER/COPPER SULPHATE

AND SILVER/SILVER CHLORIDE, REFERENCE ELECTRODE

1.5

NES 704
Part 5
Issue 3 (Reformatted)

1.6

NES 704
Part 5
Issue 3 (Reformatted)

ANNEX A.
RELATED DOCUMENTS
A.1

Reference is made to:

Referred to in
Clause
BS CP1021

Code of Practice for Cathodic Protection

Foreword

DEF STAN
012
BR 1254

Guide to Engineering Alloys used in Naval

Service (Data Sheets)
Corrosion of Sea Water Cooling systems in
HM Ships
Manual of Materials and Processes
(Mechanical Engineering)

1.a.

BR 3008

A.1

1.f.
1.a.

ANNEX A.

NES 704
Part 5
Issue 3 (Reformatted)

ANNEX A.

A.2

NES 704
Part 5
Issue 3 (Reformatted)

ANNEX B.
DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS
B.1

For the purpose of Part 5 of this NES the following definitions apply:
Galvanic Series (TABLE 1.2)

Order of nobility of various metals

used to determine which of two metals
will sacrifice if coupled to the other in
an electrolyte.

Table of Potentials (TABLE 1.1)

This table relates various metals and

alloys to a Saturated Calomel Electrode
(SCE) in Sea Water (carried out in
laboratory conditions).

Bi-metallic corrosion

The corrosion which takes place when

two dissimilar metals are coupled
together in sea water or a sea
environment. The corrosion is caused
because one of the metals is more
electro-negative and an electrical
charge flows from one to the other;
metal atoms pass into solution.

Table of Acceleration factors and

This table summarizes some of the
uncoupled corrosion rates (TABLE 1.3) work carried out on bi-metallic
corrosion and shows also the uncoupled
corrosion rates of various metals and
alloys.

B.1

ANNEX B.

NES 704
Part 5
Issue 3 (Reformatted)

ANNEX B.

B.2

NES 704
Part 5
Issue 3 (Reformatted)

ALPHABETICAL INDEX

B
Bi-metallic couples, iii

G
Galvanic series, 1.1
inclusions, 1.1

L
Laboratory, B.1

O
Open circuit potentials, 1.1

P
Pollutants, 1.1

S
Sacrifice, 1.1, B.1
Sulphides, 1.1

INDEX.1

INDEX

NES 704
Part 5
Issue 3 (Reformatted)

INDEX

INDEX.2

Inside Rear Cover

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