The synergistic inhibitive effect of tungstate with zinc ions on the corrosion of iron in aqueous environments Available to Purchase

Zinc ions, produced by the electrolytic dissolution of zinc metal rods, exhibited excellent inhibition efficiency, especially in combination with the synergistic additions of tungstate and nitrite ions. The optimum ratio of tungstate: nitrite: zinc was found to be 10:10:1 and the combination of tungstate: 100 ppm ‐ nitrite: 100 ppm ‐ zinc: 10 ppm (System A) gave the best results of all the systems studied. This system requires a much smaller concentration of tungstate and nitrite ions, as compared to the concentrations typically used and claimed to offer optimal inhibition efficiency. Long‐term open circuit potential measurements indicated that effective passivation occurred within 3 days of immersion. The passive layer thus formed on the metal surface retained its protective capability for several weeks, even after test coupons were transferred into a depleted inhibitor solution. The possible mechanism of the passivation is discussed.