WATER TREATMENT

Qualified water treatment to prevent corrosion is necessary in modern water heating and cooling systems. Localized corrosion attacks can give rise to pervading pitting in one year or less.

WHAT IS CORROSION?

Corrosion is an unintentional attack on a material, in this case metal, caused by the surrounding medium, e.g. water. Corrosion is a very complex electrochemical process. The different types of corrosion are classified according to how they are formed and behave.
1. General corrosion = Uniform attack on the entire metal surface.
2. Pitting = Localized attack on certain points.
3. Water-line attack = Attack in the interface between air and water.

WHAT IS ELEMENTIN?

ELEMENTIN is a well balanced mixture of organic and inorganic inhibitors, which passivate the metal surface.
ELEMENTIN contains partly so called anodic inhibitors, which reinforce and heal the oxide film, partly cathodic inhibitors, which give a mechanical passivation by an extremely thin film. The correctly composed mixture gives a protective effect which is greater than the sum of the effects of the individual inhibitors. This mutual strengthening is called synergism.

ELEMENTIN neutralizes acid water and makes the water slightly alkaline.
ELEMENTIN does not dissolve existing deposits of lime and rust.
ELEMENTIN has been used for many years.
ELEMENTIN is water based.

DOSAGE:
% of the water volume

0.5–2.0% In conventional systems with no aluminum components.
3.5–5.0% In systems with aluminum components and/or Pex-pipes.

ELEMENTIN has been tested according to ASTM D 1384-70, which imply testing during 14 days in aggressive water with aeration at 88ºC.

Tests at Chalmers Testing Institute and according to ASTM D 1384-65 Procedure, of the Protective Effect of ELEMENTIN upon 6 Different Metals.

The tests were carried out at 80°C, i.e. that temperature at which corrosion in water under atmospheric pressure is at a maximum. Triplicate specimens were used in the tests which were allowed to proceed for 14 days in "corrosive water" without additive or with either 2 or 3% ELEMENTIN. The following results (means of weight losses for triplicate specimens) were obtained:

Weight losses of test plates of carbon steel, cast iron, cast aluminum, copper, tinplate and brass, in water with or without ELEMENTIN.

According to these test results, the ELEMENTIN has totally eliminated the corrosion of steel, cast iron and tinplate and reduced it by about 80% in the case of aluminum. As regards copper and brass, the corrosion of these materials is so low even without additive that any effect of additive that might be observed must be small. The values reported are probably within the limits of error. In any event, the weight losses recorded for copper and brass are insignificant and the corresponding corrosion rates for longer times of exposure are probably reduced by ELEMENTIN.

The tests have shown that ELEMENTIN gives a protection against corrosion of >95% on average.

Tests at Chalmers Testing Institute, of the Protective Effect of ELEMENTIN upon Steel. Certificate No. 93.823.

Duplicate specimens of weighted, carefully cleaned plates of carbon steel with a total surface area of 50 cm² were immersed in 600 ml of the test solutions specified below, through which air was blown at a rate of 30 cm³ per minute.

Weight loss of test plates of carbon steel in water with or without addition of ELEMENTIN.

Whereas a great number of rust spots appeared on the two test plates immersed in tap water without additive, no rusting whatsoever could be observed on the plates immersed in the solutions containing ELEMENTIN.
Hence, ELEMENTIN completely protected the steel specimens against corrosion even at a concentration of only 0.5%.

INJECTION

ELEMENTIN is injected directly into the system with a pump. Does not require continuous dosage.

TYPICAL DATA

Dry matter content 16.5±1%
Density 1.13±1.01
pH concentrate 10.5±0.5
pH 1% solution 10.5±0.5
Description of goods: Liquid product, colourless and free from smell.

MIXABILITY

ELEMENTIN should not be mixed with other additives.
ELEMENTIN can, however, be used together with pure ethylene glycol and T-spirit.

SAFETY REGULATIONS

Protect eyes and skin against the concentrate. Wash with fresh water at skin contact. Contains sodium nitrite. Poison. Keep out of the reach of children. NOT INFLAMMABLE.

TESTING

The corrosion preventing effect should be tested one week after the injection of ELEMENTIN and then continuingly four times a year. Test as follows:

1. Pour some water from the system (via e.g. the air release valve of a radiator) into a clean glass bottle.
2. Measure the pH value of the water with an indicator (e.g. Merck pH-indicator No. 9535 from Kebo-Grave AB), the pH should be slightly alkaline, i.e. 8–10.
3. Measure the nitrite content of the water with a nitrite indicator (e.g. Merck Nitrite test No. 10007). The nitrite content should be above 500 ppm (mg/l).
N.B. In systems containing aluminum components and/or Pex-pipes, the nitrite content should be above 2 000 ppm (mg/l).
4. Place a piece of clean, untreated steel wool into the water sample. If no visible rust has appeared within 14 days, the corrosion prevention is sufficient. Otherwise 0.2% ELEMENTIN is added and the procedure repeated.