Optimisation of a humidity chamber method for the quantitative evaluation of vapour phase corrosion inhibitors for mild steel

During manufacturing, storage and transport, corrosive substances in the environment easily attack metal items. Corrosion inhibitors are substances, which, when added to corrosive environments in relatively small dosages, will drastically reduce corrosion rates. Vapour phase corrosion inhibitors or volatile corrosion inhibitors (VCIs), also called vapour phase inhibitors (VPIs), are similar to the organic adsorption-type inhibitors but they possess a high vapour pressure. The purpose of method optimisation is to verify that a method is fit for the purpose, i.e. for use for solving a particular analytical problem. The quality assurance of corrosion test results includes the optimisation of the corrosion test method and the estimation of the uncertainty of the corrosion rate measurement. The corrosion test performed in the artificial atmosphere of the humidity chamber requires evaluation of corrosivity of the test cabinet by reference specimens. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.