Cortec® Offers a Dual Approach to Fight Deicing Salt Corrosion This Winter!

September 22, 2021

Winter is on its way to the Northern Hemisphere! This means it will not be too long before plows and salts trucks are out on the pavement clearing snow and spreading deicing salts. While these activities are critical to keep society moving safely, the sad fact is that the same chlorides used to melt ice will also renew their yearly cycle of eating away vehicle bodies and put them on the accelerated path to the junk yard. To slow down this corrosive process, Cortec® Corporation offers two powerful approaches to fighting road salt rust: (1) by attacking corrosion at its source and (2) by regular chloride cleanup after salt exposure.

Fighting Corrosion at the Source
Vehicles that apply deicing salts or fluids are at the highest risk for corrosion because of direct contact with
the corrosive materials. To minimize rusting on salt spreader trucks and other vehicles that will come in
contact with the chlorides, a Cortec
® M-605 Series additive can be easily added at low dosage to the deicer before application. These formulations are nitrite-, chromate-, and phosphate-free with three options for various deicing needs:

M-605 is a powder that can be added to NaCl based deicer to protect ferrous metals
M-605 L is a liquid that can be added to deicing fluids and is especially effective against ferrous metal corrosion from MgCl2 deicers
M-605 PS is a USDA Certified Biobased Product that comes as a powder and is most effective in CaCl2 based deicers for protection of both ferrous and aluminum alloys

The Critical Nature of Chloride Cleanup
While it is ideal to target corrosion at its root source by adding a corrosion inhibitor directly to the deicing salt, the most effective protection is often regular washing after a vehicle outing. Leaving a vehicle to sit unwashed after driving around on winter roads, caked with chloride-rich road spray that has splashed up on the sides and bottom of the truck or car, is one of the quickest routes to rusting out a vehicle. Simple washing goes a long way toward removing chlorides so they cannot continue rusting the metal body and underbody components. Washing salt-caked vehicles can be even more effective when using a cleaner that targets salt removal and protects against flash rust.

FlashCorr® VpCI® is a highly effective biobased cleaner that does so through a combination of surfactants, chelating agents, and corrosion inhibitors. It is extremely good at neutralizing and removing even the harshest salt deposits on any metal surface. FlashCorr® VpCI® also gives an added boost of protection against further salt exposure by providing a degree of flash protection for ferrous metals. As a rinsing agent, it can be used to promote an extended vehicle service life through regular preventative maintenance. FlashCorr® VpCI® contains 64% USDA certified biobased content. It is non-flammable, nitritefree, and effective at low dosages.

Conclusion: Don’t Let the Salt Go Unattended
Whatever the route to corrosion prevention on vehicles, the important thing is to not leave chlorides unattended. Regular washing is a key baseline
activity, with the addition of deicing salt and rinse water additives providing a powerful boost to corrosion prevention. Cortec
® makes this possible
with its M-605 Series and FlashCorr
® VpCI® cleaner. Contact Cortec® today for more information: https://www.cortecvci.com/contact-us/

Learn more about M-605 Series here:
https://www.cortecvci.com/products/corrosion-inhibiting-additives-for-coatings-fluids-adhesivesand-plastics-2/corrosion-inhibiting-additives-for-coatings-fluids-adhesives-and-plastics/m-605-m-605-l-m-605-ps/

Learn more about FlashCorr® VpCI® here: https://www.cortecvci.com/products/surface-preparation-products/flashcorr-vpci/

Keywords: corrosion, deicers, corrosion from deicers, winter road conditions, fleet maintenance, salt trucks, plowing equipment, DOT maintenance, preventative maintenance, rusty vehicles, truck wash, Cortec, VpCI, FlashCorr, deicing fluid, deicing salts

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