Patent ID: 7276144

Claim:
An anode assembly for use in cathodic protection of a steel member in a covering material, the anode assembly comprising: an anode body separate from the covering material and at least partly formed from a sacrificial anode material of a character which corrodes relative to the steel member to form corrosion products; the anode assembly being arranged for embedding in the covering material; and the anode assembly including an electrical connecting member for electrical connection to the steel member so that, in use, an electrical galvanic potential therebetween causes corrosion of the sacrificial anode material and tending to inhibit corrosion of the steel member; wherein at least a portion of anode assembly comprises porous material; wherein the anode assembly includes an additive material incorporated during forming of the anode assembly, said additive material comprises humectant material comprising lithium nitrate included within at least a portion of the anode assembly which is porous, and said humectant material (i) maintaining moisture in the anode assembly so as maintain conductivity around the anode material and (ii) keeping an interface of the anode material electrochemically active to ensure that current flow is maintained; and wherein the porous material, including the humectant material, has an alkalinity which alone is insufficient to maintain the cathodic protection.