Int. J. Corros. Scale Inhib., 2018, 7, no. 2, 126–150 126 Volatile corrosion inhibitors for ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys: A review F.A. Ansari,1 C. Verma,2,3 Y.S. Siddiqui,4 E.E. Ebenso2,3 and M.A. Quraishi5* 1Department of Applied Chemistry, JETGI, Faculty of Engineering, Barabanki, India-225203 2Department of Chemistry, School of Mathematical & Physical Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University (Mafikeng Campus), Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa 3Material Science Innovation & Modelling (MaSIM) Research Focus Area, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University (Mafikeng Campus), Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa 4Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, JETGI, Faculty of Engineering, Barabanki, India-225203 5Center of Research Excellence in Corrosion, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia *E-mail:
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[email protected] Abstract Volatile corrosion inhibitors (VCIs) or vapor phase inhibitors (VPIs) represent a class of compounds that are employed to protect the corrosion or oxidation of ferrous and non- ferrous metals and alloys where other surface treatments are impractical. The VCIs release slowly inside the sealed airspace and actively adsorb and prevent corrosion. Several VCIs have been employed as effective inhibitors for several metals like iron, zinc, aluminum, etc. and their alloys. Literature study revealed that VCIs protect metallic corrosion either by forming a surface protective film on the metal surface or neutralizing the corrosive surrounding reagents H2O, SO2, H2S and CO2, etc. Because of the high volatility, VCIs easily vaporize and their vapors condense on the metallic surface as well as the volume available in the crevices, pores and cracks thereby gives complete protection where they used.