Cortec Designs Corrosion Inhibiting Additive
Posted by Michelle Howard
Cortec Designs Corrosion Inhibiting Additive
Compatible with Diesel Fuel Tanks and Systems.
Corrosion is a common problem on carbon steel components shipped
overseas or stored for months in humid climates. Metals in good
condition when manufactured may be severely corroded by the time
they reach their destination or are unpacked from warehouse
storage.
Cortec has frequently addressed this problem by offering
integrated solutions in the form of VpCI films, coatings, or
other delivery systems that best suit the application and are
relatively easy and economical to use. During its 40-year
history, Cortec has also developed many new VpCI products that
meet specific end user needs and introduce these benefits to
others.
This recently occurred with Cortec's development of a new VpCI
fuel additive for the protection of diesel fuel tanks and
systems. A corrosion problem on carbon steel diesel fuel tanks of
a major manufacturer's heavy equipment prompted the discovery.
Corrosion would occur on the equipment tanks after about one
month of overseas shipment and would increase during long months
of storage in the humid climate of Brazil.
Cortec R&D responded to the problem by designing VpCI-706, an
additive fully compatible with diesel and biodiesel fuel and
tailored to work in diesel tanks and systems. The product
provides superior corrosion protection for ferrous metal surfaces
both in contact with the fuel and above the fuel level. VpCI-706
has many important features:
- May be used in operation, storage, and shipment
- Fully compatible with diesel and biodiesel fuels
- Provides protection in liquid and vapor phase, and at
liquid/air interface
- Does not contain trace metals, chlorides, chromates,
nitrites, or phosphates
- Does not contain additives known to create precipitates and
filter issues
- Can be fogged or poured directly into gas tanks
After running tests and ultimately developing VpCI-706, Cortec
did a trial on the heavy equipment carbon steel tanks that had
inspired the product. The additive was applied to the heavy
equipment tanks (which were filled with an operational amount of
diesel fuel for equipment loading and unloading) before
approximately one month of shipment to Brazil, where further
storage would occur. When the equipment arrived at its
destination, the filler necks of the untreated and treated tanks
were compared. Corrosion was found on the filler necks of the
untreated tanks, but the filler necks of the treated tanks had
been preserved, and the customer expressed the desire to adopt
the new protection method.
Adding VpCI-706 to diesel tanks before shipment or storage is an
important new strategy for protecting truck and heavy equipment
fuel tanks and systems from corrosion. It lowers the risk of
monetary loss and customer dissatisfaction from equipment that
arrives at its destination in a corroded condition.
An important advantage of using VpCI-706 is that it does not
affect engine performance and can be used in the tank during
engine operation. The engine can be safely started in order to
drive heavy equipment in and out of the shipping or storage
compartment for easier loading and unloading. VpCI-706 can then
be left in the diesel tanks for continued corrosion protection
during storage and operation of heavy equipment or trucks.
The additive offers protection at a very low dosage rate of 0.5%
per volume of the tank to be protected. The presence of Cortec's
proprietary Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors means that the tank
does not need to be completely filled with fuel, since protection
will occur on metal surfaces both above and below the surface of
the fuel.
VpCI-706 is an important addition to Cortec's range of integrated
solutions as a corrosion inhibiting additive that is compatible
with diesel fuel, protects at a very low concentration, and can
be used during equipment operation. By listening to industry
needs, Cortec R&D has been able to make an important advance
in the preservation of diesel fuel tanks and systems.
Feb 7, 2017