Complete corrosion inhibition of lamellar zinc pigment in aqueous alkaline media

Lamellar zinc pigment reacts in aqueous alkaline media (e.g., water-borne paints) with the evolution of hydrogen. This corrosion reaction can be inhibited by 2-nitrophenol (2-NP), 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP), 2-hydroxy-3,5-dinitro-benzoic acid (HDNBA) and 2-hydroxy-3-nitro-benzoic acid (2-H-3-NBA) which all have a nitro-group ortho to a hydroxy-group; this structural part of the inhibitors can be considered as a potential chelating group which may explain the corrosion inhibiting effect. As a rule, with triethylamine (TEA) as neutralizing agent corrosion inhibition is slightly better when compared to dimethylethanolamine (DMEA). With TEA there is complete corrosion inhibition with addition of 2,4-DNP at pH 8 and 10; with 2-H-3-NBA there is complete inhibition at pH 10.