Skip to content Programmed erosion: The anode dissolves and becomes covered with white residue in a programmed manner, thus protecting the surrounding steel. This explains the “eroded” and powdery appearance visible in the photo. How did these objects end up there? Since the deceased hadn’t ingested these metal blocks, how did they become mixed with the ashes? The most likely explanation, according to industry experts, is related to the crematorium’s technical maintenance. The furnaces and their gas filtration or purification systems operate in environments subject to significant thermal and chemical stresses. These anodes were part of the structure’s internal equipment (in the ducts, filters, or technical water tanks). Having reached their maximum wear level, they detached or broke, eventually becoming accidentally mixed with residue during cleaning or ash processing operations. A solved mystery that serves as a reminder that, even in the most solemn moments, industrial physics and chemistry sometimes intervene where they are least expected. If you would like to learn more about a related topic, I can explain how impressed current cathodic protection (used on ships and pipelines) works or detail the different metals used for rust prevention.
