Question

What are Corrosion Inhibitors?

Answer 1

Corrosion Inhibitor

• A corrosion inhibitor is a chemical agent that can be applied to metals and used to reduce the corrosion rate of that metal.
• One approach for preventing corrosion would be to apply a coating to the metal's surface that functions as a passive layer and prevents access to the metal's surface.

Corrosion Inhibitor Types

Corrosion inhibitors are categorized into four groups based on how they function on the metal to resist corrosion. These are some examples:

• Cathodic Inhibitor- Cathodic inhibitors may work to either slow down the cathodic process or to preferentially accumulate on the cathodic portions of the metal in order to limit the diffusion of eroded components to the metal surface. Sulfite and bisulfite ions, which can combine with oxygen to generate sulfates, are examples of cathodic inhibitors.
• Anodic Inhibitor -These corrosion inhibitors generate a thin protective oxide layer on the metal's surface. This reaction causes a significant anodic shift, converting the surface layer into a passive film zone. This passivation zone aids in the reduction of metal corrosion. Chromates, nitrites, and other anodic inhibitors are examples.
• Volatile Inhibitor -Volatile corrosion inhibitors can be used to prevent the corrosion of boiler condenser tubes. They are also known as vapor phase inhibitors (VPIs).
  Morpholine and hydrazine are two examples of chemicals that are used to prevent corrosion in boiler condenser pipes.
• Combination Inhibitors -These corrosion inhibitors also produce a layer on the metal's surface. They operate to minimize both cationic and anionic reactions. Mixed inhibitors comprise silicates and phosphates, both of which are employed as water softeners.

Corrosion Inhibitors' Applications:

• Corrosion Inhibitors are used to prevent metal rusting and anodic corrosion. This is often accomplished by covering the metal surface with a chromate layer.
• Oxygen scavengers can be employed as Corrosion Inhibitors to interact with dissolved oxygen in the environment and aid in cathodic corrosion prevention.
• It is critical to keep fuel pipelines from rusting and corroding. As a result, Corrosion Inhibitors are critical in safeguarding these pipelines and lowering the likelihood of accidents.
• Metal pipes in heating systems corrode easily. Corrosion Inhibitors also play an important role in safeguarding these pipes.