2004 F.N. Speller Award Lecture: Efficacy of Vapor Phase Corrosion Inhibitor Technology in Manufacturing

Corrosion is a plight that faces everyone who works with metals. Its impact on the U.S. economy has been documented to be about 4% of the gross national product. It was estimated that about one third of the corrosion damage could be avoided. The avoidable costs were related to the failure to use the best practices available. There are several ways of combating corrosion. One way that is gaining wider acceptance is to use vapor phase corrosion inhibitors. Volatile corrosion inhibitors were originally developed to protect boilers and piping systems of ships to be mothballed. Their effectiveness and ease of application attracted early users. Over the years, the field of usage has increased to cover electronics, packaging, process industries, reinforced concrete, coatings, and metalworking fluids.