New concept for metallic protection against corrosion: volatile corrosion inhibitors

Abstract

Volatile Corrosion Inhibitors (VCI) are being extensively used as a powerful tool for corrosion inhibition in metals and their alloys. VCI are active compounds able to eliminate certain causes of corrosion such as acidity etc., forming a protective monomolecular layer on the metal inside a packing. This thesis describes a new concept of corrosion inhibitors and the conditions for their application. The technology is based on volatile corrosion inhibitors, active substances building upon a new concept of using water as a carrier, either in liquid or in gas phase. The developed products carry a generic name in this work: The VCI-active. As opposed to the literature and to current practice which recommend avoiding the contact of water with the surface of the metal to be protected, in this thesis water is employed as an active carrier of corrosion inhibitors. It bases on the fact that the majority of volatile corrosion inhibitors distill/evaporate with water steam, thus in liquid as well as in gas phase they form a protective film on the surface of metal (in this thesis, iron) products, which very effectively prevents corrosion. The thesis presents the principles of this development together with actual cases demonstrating and proving the anti-corrosive effect in metals in laboratory as well as in industrial applications. Thanks to positive results of this new concept, further investigations can now focus on application in industrial scale.