researchers at the university of arizona’s college of engineering have examined the process of galvanic corrosion in metal pipes have developed a reference electrode that can work in high temperature environments and will benefit the solar power, nuclear power, and petroleum refining industries.

the sensor could be a boost for nuclear power plants. (wikimedia commons)

the electrode has been patented and, in collaboration with tech launch arizona, a startup company named caltrode has been created.

the sensor sits inside pipes that transport molten materials, upwards of 1,500°f, and keeps track of the voltage differential between the metal alloys in the pipes and the material flowing through it - the larger the differential, the faster corrosion that will take place.

the sensor allows operators to manage the mixture of materials in the pipes to ensure that the voltage differential is lowered, which reduces the potential for galvanic corrosion, according to a report from tech launch arizona.

the same research team also developed a toxin-free method for using high temperature molten salts to extract metal from raw copper ore and turned that technology into a second startup, metoxs electrochemical, which will also be using the new sensor.

learn more about both companies at http://tucson.com/business/tucson/ua-corrosion-research-leads-to-metals-extraction-invention/article_a347c2b0-50c4-569d-89f2-331e0987afc6.html.