Process for protecting an outer surface of a non passive metal object

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the protection of objects bearing metals, especially non-passivatable metals. Corrosion inhibitors (VCI materials) are put into a carrier loaded with the objects to be protected, the amount of VCI material being chosen such that the interior vapor phase of the carrier has always sufficient VCI material during the entire period of transportation and storage. An inhibitor gas and/or inhibitor fluid is, or may serve as a carrier for, the VCI material. The treatment with the inhibitor gas and/or inhibitor fluid containing the VCI material may be performed before the carrier is sealed and may be performed on the exposed surface of the object and/or the inside surface of the carrier.

1 . A method for protecting objects bearing metals comprising the steps of: 
 placing the objects in a carrier;    providing an inhibitor gas or inhibitor fluid containing vapor-phase corrosion inhibitors and    closing the carrier loaded with the objects and the inhibitor gas or inhibitor fluid, wherein the amount of vapor-phase corrosion inhibitors is adequate to ensure sufficient vapor-phase corrosion inhibitors are present to inhibit corrosion of the objects to be protected.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said metals are non-passivatable metals.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor gas or inhibitor fluid is provided on at least a metal surface of the object to be protected.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor gas or inhibitor fluid is provided on the inside surface of the carrier.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor gas or inhibitor fluid is provided on only the inside surface of the carrier.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor gas or inhibitor fluid is provided only after the carrier is completely loaded.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of provided the inhibitor gas or inhibitor fluid comprises spraying the inhibitor gas or inhibitor fluid onto the object or into the carrier.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of closing the carrier after the inhibitor gas or inhibitor fluid is provided.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor gas or inhibitor fluid is provided with a low-pressure system.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interior of the carrier is only spot-treated with the inhibitor gas or inhibitor fluid.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vapor-phase corrosion inhibitors are provided in an amount sufficient to inhibit corrosion of the objects to be protected during a transportation and storage period.  
     
     
         12 . A method of preparing at least one metal-containing object for transportation or storage comprising the steps of: 
 placing the object in a carrier;    providing an inhibitor gas or inhibitor fluid containing vapor-phase corrosion inhibitors and    closing the carrier loaded with the object and the inhibitor gas or inhibitor fluid, wherein the amount of vapor-phase corrosion inhibitors is adequate to ensure sufficient vapor-phase corrosion inhibitors are present to inhibit corrosion of the object to be protected.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one metal-containing object is selected from the group consisting of: camshafts, crankshafts, motor blocks and cylinder heads.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the metal in the at least one metal-containing object is non-passivatable.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the vapor-phase corrosion inhibitors are provided in an amount sufficient to inhibit corrosion of the objects to be protected during a transportation and storage period.