Corrosion Inhibitors and Compositions Containing Them

This invention relates to corrosion inhibitors and compositions containing them.

In heat exchange systems, for example domestic central heating systems, motor vehicle cooling systems and the like, it is common to use a heat exchange fluid comprising large quantities of water. If the fluid comes into contact with a number of different metals for example solder, copper, brass, steel, cast iron and/or aluminium corrosion problems may become acute both because of the need to protect each of the metals individually against corrosion and also because electrolytic cells may be set up between the different metals present. In the case of motor vehicle cooling systems the problem is further exacerbated by the need in many parts of the world to include an antifreeze component in the heat exchange fluid during the winter in order to protect the heat exchange fluid from freezing during cold weather. Common antifreeze components are organic liquids which reduce the freezing point of water and are relatively stable to the working conditions encountered; they include methanol (which is however, somewhat volatile and thus tends to be lost by evaporation) ethylene glycol and propylene glycol. The most common is ethylene glycol; this may if desired be used in admixture with methanol and/or propylene glycol. Other organic liquids for example ethanol may be used but considerations of cost effectiveness and volatility generally favour ethylene glycol.

A number of corrosion inhibitor systems are already known. Many contain nitrites and some others contain amines. Although it seems unlikely that these materials are individually health hazards it is possible that different corrosion inhibitors may become mixed. Typically a motorist may have the cooling system of his car filled with a diluted corrosion inhibited antifreeze by a garage at the onset of winter and may "top-up" the system from time to time using a different brand of corrosion inhibited antifreeze and water. Alternatively a motorist may buy one brand of corrosion inhibited antifreeze one year and another the next year and may use the remnants of the previous years supply as well as his new supply in filling the cooling system. If mixtures of amines and nitrites are present they tend to form nitrosamines in the system and these are believed to be carcinogenic. (See for example Chemical Week Oct. 11, 1978 page 40 and Aug. 23, 1978 page 16).

It is an object of this invention to provide an inhibitor composition which overcomes the need to use nitrites and amines whilst still providing very efficient inhibition of corrosion.

According to the invention a corrosion inhibitor comprises a triazole, preferably 2 to 50 parts by weight, an alkali metal borate preferably in an amount sufficient to give a boron content of 5 to 60 and more preferably 10 to 30 parts by weight, an alkali metal benzoate or homologue thereof, preferably 100 to 500 and more preferably 150 to 300 parts by weight, an alkali metal silicate sufficient to provide water soluble silicate preferably in an amount of 1.5 to 15 parts by weight expressed as SiO.sub.2 and an alkali metal salt of a C.sub.7 to C.sub.13 dibasic organic acid, preferably 15 to 250 and more preferably 20 to 150 parts calculated as the free acid, the corrosion inhibitor giving at a temperature of 25.degree. C. a pH in a 2% solution of the corrosion inhibitor in water in the range 6.5 to 10 and preferably 7 to 9.

The composition may if desired be incorporated into an antifreeze composition by dissolving it in 10,000 parts by weight of an antifreeze component as aforesaid, especially ethylene glycol. The antifreeze composition may if desired contain a small amount of water to improve the solubility of the corrosion inhibitor, colouring matter, anti-foaming agents and other materials if desired.

The antifreeze composition may be diluted in a ratio of 2:1 and preferably 1:2 to 1:5 by volume with water to produce a heat exchange fluid suitable for use in motor vehicle cooling systems.

It is preferred that the dibasic acid should have 9 to 12 carbon atoms. Sebacic acid is suitably present and very suitably a mixture of dibasic acids having 9 to 12 carbon atoms may be employed.

The triazole is suitably benzotriazole or tolyltriazole.

The alkali metal silicate is suitably an alkali metal metasilicate.

A suitable homologue of the benzoate is the toluate.

The alkali metal borate may be for example a sodium tetraborate.

The alkali metals of the inhibitor are suitably sodium or potassium or a mixture thereof.

Antifreeze formulations were prepared by dissolving the appropriate compounds in the indicated amounts in monoethylene glycol. Concentrations are in % by weight of the total composition.

The formations were tested by the following test methods.