Correlation of content and corrosion protection of volatile corrosion inhibitors in packaging material - regaining trust in VCI

• Published in: Materials and corrosion Vol. 62; no. 8; pp. 745 - 752
• Main Authors: Eibl, S., Reiner, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.08.2011; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley-VCH
• Subjects: amine; Applied sciences; Corrosion; Corrosion environments; Corrosion prevention; Exact sciences and technology; Metals. Metallurgy; nitrite; VCI; volatile corrosion inhibitor; Packaging; Corrosion; Corrosion protection; Corrosion inhibitor
• ISSN: 0947-5117; 1521-4176
• DOI: 10.1002/maco.200905546

Two representative types of commercial volatile corrosion inhibitor (VCI) packaging materials without a potential for health hazards according to TRGS 615 were investigated: a paper containing ethanol amine and a polyethylene foil containing sodium nitrite as main VCI ingredients. For a variation of VCI concentration the packaging material was thermally treated at 60–100 °C and the amount of VCI remaining was determined after this accelerated desorption. Additionally a nitrite‐free polyethylene foil was impregnated with various amounts of sodium nitrite. Correlations of VCI content – of both the amine and nitrite – with corrosion protection of mild steel were observed. For ethanol amine a color change reaction is proposed to indicate the remaining potential of corrosion protection. This work is aimed at regaining trust in VCI technology.