This report deals with cathodic protection as a system for preventing or stopping corrosion in ordinary and post-tensioned reinforced concrete structures, without taking into consideration any other aspects not strictly related to the protection itself of the rebars.

The corrosion of concrete rebars is a subject to which little attention has been given in technical reviews and in international meetings in the past. This was probably partly due to the number of disciplines involved, which would require a closer dialogue between the specialists in the various subjects (structures, materials science, electrochemistry, chemistry, electrotechnics, electronics).

However, the importance of the subject cannot be underrated by anyone who is aware of the widespread, serious decay of many public structures and of the subsequent high economic costs due to repair work and the losses of use involved.