10 Things You Didn’t Know About Corrosion Inhibitors

If you’ve never heard of corrosion inhibitors, then the chances of you having used them either directly or indirectly are high.

What is a Corrosion Inhibitor?

As it suggests, a corrosion inhibitor slows down the rate of corrosion. It is usually a chemical compound that is added to a fluid or gas to stop the fluid or gas from corroding any metal that it comes into contact with.

Where are Corrosion Inhibitors found?

1. Corrosion Inhibitors are found domestically in Central heating systems, to stop the water from corroding the metal pipes and radiators. Without them, there would be a greater chance of the pipes and radiators rusting.

2. Many other common items require corrosion inhibitors. Lubricants for power tools, garden tools, bike chain oil, factory machinery and much more, ensure the tool or machine operates smoothly and properly.

3. Vehicle brake fluids contain Corrosion Inhibitors so that the brake fluid does not wear out the metal of the brake discs and pads and cause the brakes to rust and fail with severe consequences. Car cooling systems also benefit from corrosion inhibitors so that the engine will stay cool and not overheat.

4. Vehicle oil needs to lubricate the relevant metal parts without causing them damage. Without the corrosion inhibitors, there would be a risk that some car components would rust and cause structural weaknesses or mechanical damage and make the vehicle unsafe.

5. Fuels such as petrol and diesel, as well as biofuels, need corrosion inhibitors so that the engine stays lubricated without rusting, and decaying. They also help to ensure that the engine will perform for the lifetime of the car.

6. Pipelines need to be protected from decay from the oil and gas that they carry. As pipelines are often under the sea, or in other hard to reach places, they need to be resilient and last for a long time, so that they don’t have to be replaced too often.

7. Oil refineries need corrosion inhibitors so that the vast quantities of oil stored there doesn’t corrode the storage tanks. Oil refineries may deal with oils of varying quality and origin, and so the tanks will need to be capable of processing and storing different grades of oil.

8. Corrosion Inhibitors are also used in concrete, in structures such as bridges and buildings. Adding the inhibitor will help to ensure the durability of the concrete.

9. Paint needs corrosion inhibitors so that the surface that is painted doesn’t rust. Vehicles, metal structures such as bridges, oil rigs, scaffolding and cranes, electricity pylons, and much more need to be protected from the elements and from other liquids.

10. Wherever there is a risk of rusting, Corrosion Inhibitors should be used to help lessen the effect of the corrosion and to ensure that the metal doesn’t rust which will weaken the metal.
Now that you know more about corrosion inhibitors, where they are found and what they do, isn’t it time you checked to make sure that the ones you use are the most effective?

See how Corrosion Inhibitors and Diesel Additives are helping to improve fuel performance at InnospecInc.com