Compositions and methods for preventing and treating corrosion of metal surfaces

Abstract

Environmentally safe, cost effective, VOC-free compositions and methods for the prevention and treatment of corrosive processes in and on metal such as rust, flash rust and scale in a wide variety of industry sectors is provided. Compositions particularly well-suited for the long term prevention of rust and other corrosive processes may include an organic acid or salt thereof, a natural gum and / or wax and / or extracts or derivatives thereof, a gelling agent, and water.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 812,820, filed Mar. 30, 2004, which in turn claims priority to provisional U.S. Application Ser. No. 60 / 472,960, filed May 23, 2003. The contents of each of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention concerns compositions and methods for treating or preventing corrosive processes on metal surfaces. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] A recent government study concluded that the total annual cost due to corrosion in the U.S. alone is around $276 billion, representing nearly 3.1% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product in 1998. Corrosion affects many different industry sectors, including infrastructure, utilities, transportation, production and manufacturing, and government. The infrastructure sector includes highway bridges, gas and liquid transmission pipelines, waterways and ports, hazardous mate...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] One embodiment of the present invention provides aqueous non-toxic, anti-corrosive, rust-inhibiting compositions which may include organic acids such as sorbic acid, salts of sorbic acid and / or derivatives thereof such as potassium sorbate and extracts natural gums or waxes such as beeswax, vegetable wax and / or extracts or derivatives thereof.

[0009] Another embodiment of the present invention provides compositions which are particularly well-suited to prevent flash rust on metal surfaces, wherein such compositions may include organic acids such as sorbic acid, salts of sorbic acid and / or derivatives thereof such as potassium sorbate and natural gums or waxes such as beeswax, vegetable wax and / or extracts or derivatives thereof.

[0010] Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides compositions which are particularly well-suited for use as a bath or dip to prevent rusting of metal surfaces, wherein such compositions may include organic acids such as sorbic acid, salts of sorbic acid and / or derivatives thereof such as potassium sorbate and natural gums or waxes such as beeswax, vegetable wax and / or extracts or derivatives thereof.

[0011] Another embodiment of the present invention provides compositions which are particularly well-suited to operate as paint or coating preservatives which are effective in preventing rust formation on coated surfaces. Such compositions may include organic acids such as sorbic acid, salts of sorbic acid and / or derivatives thereof such as potassium sorbate and extracts natural gums or waxes such as beeswax, vegetable wax and / or extracts or derivatives thereof.

Problems solved by technology

Corrosive processes include, for example, rust, flash rust, and scale formation.

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