# US 9,435,037 B2 · Method for treating elongate metal tension member with volatile corrosion inhibitors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,037 B2 - Document ID: US9435037B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/223,311 - Filed: 2014-03-24 - Published: 2014-07-24 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2006-11-14 - Assignees: Cortec Corporation - Applicants: Cortec Corporation - Inventors: Margarita Kharshan; Alla Furman; Jessi Jackson Meyer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435037B2 ## CPC - C23F 11/02: in air or gases by adding vapour phase inhibitors - B05D 1/06: Applying particulate materials - B05D 7/14: to metal, e.g. car bodies (involving a chemical reaction between the metal and the coating C23) - E04C 5/015: {Anti-corrosion coatings or treating compositions, e.g. containing waterglass or based on another metal (coating of discrete reinforcing elements C04B20/10)} - C23F: NON-MECHANICAL REMOVAL OF METALLIC MATERIAL FROM SURFACE (working metal by laser beams B23K26/00; desurfacing by applying flames B23K7/00; working of metal by electro-erosion B23H; producing decorative effects by removing surface material, e.g. by engraving, by etching, B44C1/22; electrolytic etching or polishing C25F); INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL; MULTI-STEP PROCESSES FOR SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL INVOLVING AT LEAST ONE PROCESS PROVIDED FOR IN CLASS C23 AND AT LEAST ONE PROCESS COVERED BY SUBCLASS C21D OR C22F OR CLASS C25 - B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02) - E04C: STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS (for bridges E01D; specially designed for insulation or other protection E04B; elements used as building aids E04G; for mining E21; for tunnels E21D; structural elements with broader range of application than for building engineering F16, particularly F16S) ## Abstract A volatile corrosion inhibiting agent is provided for dispersion of a vapor phase corrosion inhibitor in a vapor stream that is passed into a sheath or other casing enclosing a metal bar, cable, or other tension member to protect said tension member from corrosion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for treating an elongate metal tension member, including: generating a vapor stream including a carrier gas and a vapor phase corrosion inhibitor capable of adsorbing to exposed metal surfaces; introducing the vapor stream into an interior volume defined within a casing that is disposed in surrounding relation to said elongate metal tension member until the vapor stream fills a portion of the interior volume of said casing; and passing said carrier gas in proximity to a volatile corrosion inhibiting agent composition, said volatile corrosion inhibiting agent composition including first and second volatile corrosion inhibitors having different equilibrium vapor pressures. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, said first volatile corrosion inhibitor having an equilibrium vapor pressure of greater than about 1×10−4 mm Hg at 21° C., and the second volatile corrosion inhibitor having an equilibrium vapor pressure of less than about 1×10−4 mm Hg at 21° C. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The process of claim 2 wherein: the volatile corrosion inhibiting agent composition is supplied in solid form. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein: the tension member and casing are surrounded by a concrete structure; and wherein introducing the vapor stream comprises forming first and second passages through the concrete structure and into respective first and second regions of the interior volume. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein: introducing the vapor stream is performed in situ with the tension member maintained in tension between anchoring members at first and second end regions of the tension member, respectively. ### Claim 6 A process for treating an elongate metal structural member held under tension, said process comprising the steps of: generating a vapor stream including a carrier gas and a vapor phase corrosion inhibitor capable of adsorbing to exposed metal surfaces; directing the vapor stream into an interior of a casing surrounding the elongate metal structural member until the vapor stream fills a portion of the casing; and passing said carrier gas in proximity to a volatile corrosion inhibiting agent composition to disperse said vapor phase corrosion inhibitor within said carrier gas, said volatile corrosion inhibiting agent composition including first and second volatile corrosion inhibitors having different equilibrium vapor pressures. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The process according to claim 6, said first volatile corrosion inhibitor having an equilibrium vapor pressure of greater than about 1×10−4 mm Hg at 21° C., and the second volatile corrosion inhibitor having an equilibrium vapor pressure of less than about 1×10−4 mm Hg at 21° C. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The process according to claim 7 wherein the volatile corrosion inhibiting agent composition is supplied in solid form. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The process according to claim 6 wherein the elongate metal structural member held under tension and the casing are surrounded by a concrete structure, and wherein directing the vapor stream further comprises forming first and second passages extending through the concrete structure and through the casing into first and second regions of the interior of the casing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The process according to claim 6 further including performing the step of directing the vapor stream in situ with the elongate metal structural member maintained in tension between anchoring members at first and second end regions of the elongate metal structural member. ### Claim 11 A process for treating an elongate metal structural member held under tension, said process comprising the steps of: generating a vapor stream including a carrier gas and a vapor phase corrosion inhibitor capable of adsorbing to exposed metal surfaces; directing a volume of vapor stream into an interior of a casing surrounding the elongate metal structural member wherein said volume of vapor stream is sufficient to fill an interior volume of the casing; and passing said carrier gas in proximity to a volatile corrosion inhibiting agent composition to disperse said vapor phase corrosion inhibitor within said carrier gas. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The process according to claim 11, said volatile corrosion inhibiting agent composition including first and second volatile corrosion inhibitors, with said first volatile corrosion inhibitor having an equilibrium vapor pressure of greater than about 1×10−4 mm Hg at 21° C., and the second volatile corrosion inhibitor having an equilibrium vapor pressure of less than about 1×10−4 mm Hg at 21° C. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The process according to claim 12 wherein the volatile corrosion inhibiting agent composition is supplied in solid form. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The process according to claim 11 wherein the elongate metal structural member held under tension and the casing are surrounded by a concrete structure, and wherein directing the vapor stream further comprises forming first and second passages extending through the concrete structure and through the casing into first and second regions of the interior of the casing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The process according to claim 11 further including performing the step of directing the vapor stream into the casing with the elongate metal structural member maintained in tension between anchoring members at first and second end regions of the elongate metal structural member.