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Six corrosion protection systems for offshore wind power constructions have been subjected to offshore conditions on a test site in the North Sea in three different exposure zones, namely splash zone, intermediate zone, and underwater zone. The systems included single- and multiple-layered organic coatings, metal-spray coatings, and duplex coatings. Special testing specimens were designed and manufactured and exposed to an offshore environment for three years in order to characterize particular constructive details for different corrosivity zones. The following target parameters were investigated: intensity of fouling, anti-corrosive effect, coating adhesion, coating integrity, flange corrosion, coating performance over welds, and condition of screw connections. Fouling was an issue in the underwater zone and in the intermediate zone, but it did not affect the coating corrosion protection capacity. It was found that duplex systems, consisting of Zn/Al spray metallization, intermediate particle-reinforced epoxy coating, and polyurethane top layer, provided the highest anti-corrosive effect. Mechanical damage to the coatings initiated coating delamination and substrate corrosion. Effective coating systems should be either very resistant to impact or able to compensate for corrosion of the steel. Flange connections were found to be critical structural parts in the splash zone in terms of corrosion. Notable crevice corrosion was observed at places. Except for one coating system, welds have been protected well. Welds, however, affected the corrosion of the steel inside the uncoated internal sections in the underwater samples. Coating integrity on difficult-to-coat structural parts was satisfactory for all systems

A highly porous surface with a high crystalline content and resultant photocatalytic activity is ensured through the process of plasma electrolytic oxidation on pure titanium. In the present study the morphology, crystallinity and photocatalytic activity of plasma electrolytic oxidized TiO2-surfaces were investigated. The surfaces were prepared in acidic and alkaline electrolytes over an applied voltage range between 50 V and 300 V to optimize the crystalline and photocatalytic properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction(XRD) were selected to determine the morphologies which differ according to the type of electrolyte as well as the crystal structures of anatase and rutile on the surface material, which increase with the applied voltage. The oxide surfaces did not show morphological differences compared to typical PEO surfaces with the exception of oxide films obtained in H2SO4-solution which also exhibited an astounding amount of rutile even with low applied voltages. The increased parts of anatase and rutile on the surfaces resulted in photocatalytic activity, which was investigated under UV-light using methylene blue, while the PEO surfaces showed degradation activity. There is an indication that a high proportion of anatase and small amounts of rutile in the PEO layers positively influence photocatalytic activity

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