Temporary corrosion protection of metal components and surfaces during shipment, storage and/or in between manufacturing processes is critical to a variety of industries worldwide. A common example of this is automotive components, which may require temporary corrosion protection for a few days, weeks or months. Rust-preventative liquids are regularly used to accomplish this task.
When choosing a temporary rust-preventative product, multiple considerations must be made. In addition to effective corrosion protection, the product should provide little to no interference with the function of the metal part or surface, and should also be safe and friendly to the environment and the workers using it. Finally, ease of removal needs to be considered. Traditionally, oil- and solvent-based products have been used for the preservation of metals during shipment, storage or between processes. While these products may offer sufficient corrosion protection, they often contain hazardous ingredients and are not readily biodegradable.1,2 As environmental and disposal regulations become more and more stringent, the desire for “green” corrosion inhibitors is increasing.3 Recently, the use of biobased products, derived from vegetable oils and their esters, has been found to offer equal or better corrosion protection properties, when compared to their petroleum-derived counterparts.2