Corrosion inhibition with rare earth metal compounds in aqueous solutions

DE DAMBORENEA, A. CONDE and M. A. ARENAS, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Metaliirgicas (CENIM-CSIC), Spain 

Abstract Inhibitors are probably the oldest method of corrosion protection. 

Key words rare earth salts, environmentally friendly inhibitors, cathodic inhibitor, aqueous inhibitors, inhibition mechanism, mechanically assisted corrosion inhibition. 

The need to protect metallic materials from corrosion starts from the very moment in which human beings start making use of them in order to satisfy their daily needs. The development of humanity itself has mainly been bound to the use of metals and alloys in ever-demanding terms (Dobrzanski, 2006). Thus, the search for efficient methods of protection has been advancing at the same time as the use of metallic materials themselves. 

Most inorganic inhibitors (such as chromates) are no longer useful because they pose a health and safety problem. However, for almost 100 years, chromates have been one of the most widely used corrosion inhibitors for a variety of metals and alloys in aqueous environments. Their excellent anti-corrosion properties together with their relative cheapness makes them difficult to replace. 

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Corrosion inhibition with rare earth metal compounds in aqueous solutions... 

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