Common Inhibitors for Effective Boiler Treatment

Do you know which inhibitors are essential for maintaining your boiler system?

Or the risks poor boiler water treatment can pose?

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Proper boiler water treatment starts with the right scale and corrosion inhibitor program to ensure efficient and safe boiler system operation and prevent catastrophic failure. A comprehensive treatment program includes pre-treatment equipment, chemical treatment, and proper control of blowdown.

Boiler water treatment chemical programs use inhibitors to prevent corrosion and scale formation.

In this article, we discuss the common inhibitors used in boiler treatment and describe their role in maintaining the health and performance of your boiler system.

Corrosion is a common issue in improperly treated boiler systems. Left unchecked, it can result in system failure. Dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide in boiler water make-up lead to oxygen pitting, condensate line corrosion, and general system corrosion. System pH or water alkalinity greatly affects the general corrosion rate for metal surfaces. 

The proper use of oxygen scavengers, neutralizing amines or film-forming amines can protect system components from damage. Maintaining the proper alkalinity level or pH balance in the feed water, boiler, and condensate system ensures optimum corrosion control. 

Corrosion is a common issue in improperly treated boiler systems. Left unchecked, it can result in system failure. Dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide in boiler water make-up lead to oxygen pitting, condensate line corrosion, and general system corrosion. System pH or water alkalinity greatly affects the general corrosion rate for metal surfaces. 

The proper use of oxygen scavengers, neutralizing amines or film-forming amines can protect system components from damage. Maintaining the proper alkalinity level or pH balance in the feed water, boiler, and condensate system ensures optimum corrosion control. 

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Proper water treatment programs are essential to prevent scale and corrosion issues. Local water conditions, system operation pressure, use of mechanical deaeration equipment, boiler make, and model all need to be considered in the design of an effective chemical treatment program. The best way to ensure proper system protection is to consult with a professional. 

At Guardian Chemicals, we offer effective water treatment chemicals for your boiler and condensate system and professional service to meet the needs of building managers and property owners. Our experienced team uses the latest equipment and techniques. We work with you to ensure your boiler and condensate system is properly treated and maintained. 

Don’t wait for problems to arise, act now and see the benefits for yourself. Contact Guardian Chemicals to review your boiler program and ensure your building is running at peak efficiency. 

There are a multitude of industries that utilize corrosion inhibitors for a variety of industrial applications Without these important inhibitors, these industries would not be able to perform the various tasks that ensure their success. And so, they would fall into disarray. However, in order to understand how to prevent this, in this blog we will explain everything you need to know about these inhibitors.   

What is Corrosion? 

Before we understand what corrosion inhibitors are and what they do, let us define a few terms. Corrosion is a chemical process that occurs when a metallic surface is oxidized – meaning it encounters oxygen and loses one or more electrons. This may seem insignificant, but it can be extremely dangerous if left unchecked. Any structure or surface with metal that is exposed to air or chemicals can corrode, leaving behind unstable and unsafe buildings, pipelines, bridges, and more. Having measures in place to prevent such corrosion will not only extend the lifetime of your equipment but can also save you money in the long run.   

What are Corrosion Inhibitors and How Are They Used?

There are several ways to prevent corrosion from occurring, such as keeping the metal clean and dry, using a coating, or using non-corrosive metals like aluminum and stainless steel. One of the most common ways is to use a chemical that inhibits – or prevents – corrosion, hence the name. These chemicals work to substantially decrease the rate of corrosion by acting as a barrier between the corrosive element (typically oxygen) and the metal surface. There are several types of corrosion inhibitors, with the most common being anodic (chemicals that prevent metal from being oxidized), cathodic (chemicals that block oxygen from being reduced), and mixed (inhibitors that perform both functions).   

Examples of Corrosion Inhibitors 

Different inhibitors will be effective on different metals and alloys (mixtures of metals and/or non-metals) and against different corrosive agents. Here is a brief list of corrosion inhibitors that are commonly used:   

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• Phenyl acridine – used against sulfuric acid 
• Sodium iodide – used against phosphoric acid 
• Sodium metasilicate – used against heavily salted and/or potable water 
• Morpholine – used against water in cooling and boiling systems 
• Sodium nitrite – used against engine coolants 

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