MMO Titanium Mesh Ribbon Anode

A Contractor's Guide to Installing MMO Ribbon Mesh Anode Without Damaging It

You have received a shipment of MMO Ribbon Mesh Anode. The specification sheet promises uniform current distribution and a guaranteed service life. But between the shipping pallet and the buried installation, many things can go wrong. Contractors who treat titanium mesh like fencing wire learn expensive lessons.

This guide covers installation practices that preserve the integrity of the MMO titanium mesh anode and its IrO2/Ta2O5 coating.

Unpacking and handling

The coating is a ceramic oxide approximately 8 to 12 microns thick. It bonds strongly to the titanium substrate, but sharp impacts will chip it. Do not drop rolls onto concrete. Do not drag rolls across gravel. Do not walk on coiled mesh.

When cutting the MMO Ribbon Mesh Anode to length, use sharp tin snips or an electric shear with titanium-rated blades. Abrasive cutoff wheels generate heat and titanium sparks that can melt the coating at the cut edge. After cutting, inspect the cut edge under good light. The coating should end cleanly at the cut. Any peeling or cracking extending more than 2mm into the mesh is a sign of improper cutting.

Transporting across the job site

Carry the mesh in bundles of no more than five layers. Rolling the mesh across the ground is acceptable only if the ground is clean sand or smooth concrete. On rocky soil, use a wheeled cart or carry by hand. The 1220mm wide specifications are heavy. Two workers should carry each roll.

Never lift the MMO Ribbon Mesh Anode by grabbing a single strand. The titanium will stretch before it breaks, permanently deforming the mesh pattern. Use a lifting bar inserted through multiple openings or a fabric sling.

Positioning in the trench

For pipeline applications, the trench bottom must be free of rocks larger than half the minimum hole size of the mesh. For the 2.5 x 4.6 x 0.6mm mesh, this means no rocks larger than 1.2mm. In practical terms, you need a sand bedding layer or a geotextile separator.

Unroll the MMO titanium mesh anode along the trench centerline. Do not pull the mesh taut. Allow gentle undulations so the mesh can conform to the trench bottom. Tension can pull the mesh away from sidewalls, creating gaps that backfill will not fill.

For overlapping sections, the mesh ends should overlap by at least 300mm. Do not weld or solder overlapping sections. The titanium will not accept solder, and welding destroys the coating. Instead, use titanium tie wires or titanium clips to mechanically connect overlapping sections. The contact pressure from the overlying backfill will maintain electrical continuity.

Cable connection techniques

The connection between the copper cable and the MMO Ribbon Mesh Anode is the most failure-prone point in the entire system. Di Noer recommends one of three methods.

Method one uses a titanium-copper transition bar. The titanium side is welded to the mesh using a capacitor discharge welder. The copper side is crimped or soldered to the cable. The entire joint is then encapsulated in a two-part epoxy mold. This method is expensive but reliable.

Method two uses a mechanical compression connector rated for titanium-copper contact. These connectors use a special insert that prevents galvanic corrosion. Torque to the manufacturer specification. Over-tightening cracks the coating near the connection point.

Method three uses a titanium strap bolted through the mesh with titanium fasteners. The strap extends to a junction box where the copper cable connects. This method is field-serviceable but requires regular inspection.

Whatever method you choose, the connection point must be electrically isolated from the earth. If a connection point contacts the backfill, the copper will corrode rapidly, and the titanium will passivate at the connection interface. Use heat-shrink tubing with adhesive liner or a poured epoxy mold.

Backfilling procedure

Do not dump backfill directly onto the MMO titanium mesh anode from a height of more than one meter. The impact will damage the coating. Instead, deposit backfill gently using a conveyor, a chute, or a backhoe bucket lowered to just above the mesh. Backfill in two layers. The first 100mm should be placed by hand or with a fine-grained material that flows around the mesh strands. After this layer is in place, the remaining backfill can be dumped normally.

Compact the backfill lightly. Heavy compaction can stretch or tear the mesh, especially in the 10mm and 13mm narrow specifications. A plate compactor running parallel to the mesh length is acceptable. A vibratory roller is not.

Documentation for the owner

After installation, record the following for each section of MMO Ribbon Mesh Anode: the exact location relative to permanent markers, the orientation of the mesh (which side faced up), the measured resistance from cable to mesh before backfill, and photographs of all connection points. This documentation becomes essential if the system ever requires troubleshooting.

The cost of rushing

Experienced contractors know that careful installation of the MMO titanium mesh anode adds perhaps one day to a typical project. Replacing a failed anode system adds weeks, requires excavation permits, and disrupts operations. The working life printed on the specification sheet assumes installation that respects the coating. Your job is to deliver that assumption to the field.

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