Systems and methods for heat activated vapor phase delivery

Abstract

The invention herein described relates generally to systems and methods for heat activated vapor phase delivery systems which can be used to deliver, with increased efficacy, at least one volatilizable compound. More specifically, the invention herein relates to systems and methods for heat activated vapor phase delivery systems which use one or more heat sources to deliver, with increased efficacy, at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound (i.e., a compound or compounds which prevent the occurrence of a chemical reaction and/or physical condition or event, such as corrosion, tarnishing, oxidation, mildew, bacterial growth, etc.).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A heat activated vapor phase delivery system comprising: 
 a container having at least one opening;    at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula, which is contained within the container;    at least one heat source; and    at least one removable cover, which is formed so as to cover the at least one opening of the container until the heat activated vapor phase delivery system is ready for use,    wherein the at least one heat source heats the at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula thereby increasing the vapor pressure of the at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the container is formed from a polymer.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula is selected from volatile corrosion inhibitors, volatile tarnish inhibitors, anti-oxidants, anti-mildew, anti-bacterials, UV-protectants, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula is selected from volatile corrosion inhibitors, volatile tarnish inhibitors, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula contains at least one of the following formulas: 
 (1) a formula which comprises: 
 (1a) at least one volatile corrosion inhibitor;  
 (1b) at least one anti-oxidant;  
 (1c) at least one alkali or alkaline-earth metal silicate or oxide; and  
 (1d) fumed silica,  
   (2) a formula which comprises: 
 (2a) at least one volatile corrosion inhibitor;  
 (2b) at least one anti-oxidant;  
 (2c) at least one alkali or alkaline-earth metal silicate or oxide;  
 (2d) fumed silica; and  
 (2e) at least one chemically active compound,  
   (3) a formula which comprises: 
 (3a) an inorganic nitrite salt;  
 (3b) a phenol represented by the formula:  
                     
   where R 1 , R 2  and R 3  are each independently selected from alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, hydroxyalkyl and hydroxyalkenyl, and where the sum of carbon atoms in R 1 , R 2  and R 3  is in the range of 3 to about 18; and 
 (3c) fumed silica, or  
   (4) a formula which comprises: 
 (4a) at least one strong alkali compound; and  
 (4b) at least one compound which yields an insoluble compound.  
   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula is contained within a foam.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat source is a chemical heat source.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat source is an electrical heat source.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vapor pressure of the at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula is increased by a factor of at least about 10.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vapor pressure of the at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula is increased by a factor of at least about 50.  
     
     
         11 . A heat activated vapor phase delivery system comprising: 
 a container having at least one opening;    at least one volatilizable corrosion inhibiting compound or formula, which is contained within the container;    at least one heat source; and    at least one removable cover, which is formed so as to cover the at least one opening of the container until the heat activated vapor phase delivery system is ready for use,    wherein the at least one heat source heats the at least one volatilizable corrosion compound or formula thereby increasing the vapor pressure of the at least one volatilizable corrosion compound or formula.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one volatilizable corrosion compound or formula further contains at least one additional volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula selected from volatile tarnish inhibitors, anti-oxidants, anti-mildew, anti-bacterials, UV-protectants, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one volatilizable corrosion compound or formula further contains at least one additional volatilizable tarnish inhibiting compound or formula.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one volatilizable compound or formula contains at least one of the following formulas: 
 (1) a formula which comprises: 
 (1a) at least one volatile corrosion inhibitor;  
 (1b) at least one anti-oxidant;  
 (1c) at least one alkali or alkaline-earth metal silicate or oxide; and  
 (1d) fumed silica,  
   (2) a formula which comprises: 
 (2a) at least one volatile corrosion inhibitor;  
 (2b) at least one anti-oxidant;  
 (2c) at least one alkali or alkaline-earth metal silicate or oxide;  
 (2d) fumed silica; and  
 (2e) at least one chemically active compound,  
   (3) a formula which comprises: 
 (3a) an inorganic nitrite salt;  
 (3b) a phenol represented by the formula:  
                     
   where R 1 , R 2  and R 3  are each independently selected from alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, hydroxyalkyl and hydroxyalkenyl, and where the sum of carbon atoms in R 1 , R 2  and R 3  is in the range of 3 to about 18; and 
 (3c) fumed silica, or  
   (4) a formula which comprises: 
 (4a) at least one strong alkali compound; and  
 (4b) at least one compound which yields an insoluble compound.  
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one volatilizable compound or formula is contained within a foam.  
     
     
         16 . A method for protecting an enclosed area comprising the steps of: 
 (A) placing at least one heat activated vapor phase delivery system into an area to be protected;    (B) activating the at least one heat activated vapor phase delivery system; and    (C) sealing the area to be protected thereby providing an enclosed area,    wherein the heat activated vapor phase delivery system comprises: a container having at least one opening; at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula, which is contained within the container; at least one heat source; and at least one removable cover, which is formed so as to cover the at least one opening of the container until the heat activated vapor phase delivery system is ready for use, wherein the at least one heat source heats the at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula thereby increasing the vapor pressure of the at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the container is formed from a polymer.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula is selected from volatile corrosion inhibitors, volatile tarnish inhibitors, anti-oxidants, anti-mildew, anti-bacterials, UV-protectants, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula is selected from volatile corrosion inhibitors, volatile tarnish inhibitors, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula contains at least one of the following formulas: 
 (1) a formula which comprises: 
 (1a) at least one volatile corrosion inhibitor;  
 (1b) at least one anti-oxidant;  
 (1c) at least one alkali or alkaline-earth metal silicate or oxide; and  
 (1 d) fumed silica,  
   (2) a formula which comprises: 
 (2a) at least one volatile corrosion inhibitor;  
 (2b) at least one anti-oxidant;  
 (2c) at least one alkali or alkaline-earth metal silicate or oxide;  
 (2d) fumed silica; and  
 (2e) at least one chemically active compound,  
   (3) a formula which comprises: 
 (3a) an inorganic nitrite salt;  
 (3b) a phenol represented by the formula:  
                     
   where R 2 , R 2  and R 3  are each independently selected from alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, hydroxyalkyl and hydroxyalkenyl, and where the sum of carbon atoms in R 1 , R 2  and R 3  is in the range of 3 and about 18; and 
 (3c) fumed silica, or  
   (4) a formula which comprises: 
 (4a) at least one strong alkali compound; and  
 (4b) at least one compound which yields an insoluble compound.  
   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula is contained within a foam.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one heat source is a chemical heat source.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one heat source is an electrical heat source.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the vapor pressure of the at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula is increased by a factor of at least about 10.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the vapor pressure of the at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula is increased by a factor of at least about 50.  
     
     
         26 . A heat activated vapor phase delivery system comprising: 
 a container;    at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula, which is contained within the container;    at least one heat source; and    at least one cover, wherein the cover contains therein at least one valve designed to release the at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula as desired,    wherein the at least one heat source heats the at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula thereby increasing the vapor pressure of the at least one volatilizable inhibiting compound or formula.