Reducing Corrosion Activity of Deicing Liquid for Pre­Flight Treatment of Aircraft

Introduction. Deicing liquids for pre­flight treatment of aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles contain glycols, surfactants, thickeners and corrosion inhibitors, which provide their functional properties, but have a negative impact on the aircraft structural elements reducing corrosion resistance and mechanical characteristics, and on the environment. Therefore, toxic inhibitors in the deicing liquids should be replaced with non­toxic ones that explain the relevance of the study. Aim of the Study. The study is aimed at justifying the possibility of using potassium monoborate as a corrosion inhibitor to reduce the toxicity of the deicing liquids. Materials and Methods. For 30 days the samples of the V95pch alloy were kept in a 50% solution of the deicing liquids Maxflight 04 without potassium monoborate and with potassium monoborate with a concentration of 0 to 6.0 g/l, and then the samples were removed, cleaned of corrosion products, and weighed. Inhibitory properties were assessed by the mass loss of samples; there were calculated the corrosion rate, inhibitory effect, and degree of protection. To study the effect of the potassium monoborate on the corrosion­fatigue strength of the alloy, there were recorded cyclic strength curves of the samples. Results. The best inhibitory properties of potassium monoborate in the 50% Maxflight 04 solution manifest themselves at a concentration of 5 g/l that confirms the optimality of this concentration. Corrosion­fatigue tests have shown that potassium monoborate at a concentration of 5 g/l in the Maxflight 04 solution increases the cyclic strength of the alloy. Discussion and Conclusion. Potassium monoborate is an effective inhibitor in the composition of the deicing liquids. It has no harmful effects on the human body and environment, and belongs to the 4th hazard class. The practical significance of the study is that the introduction of potassium monoborate into the composition of the deicing liquids Maxflight 04 at a concentration of 5 g / l ensures an increase in the serviceability of the structural elements of aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles, especially during long­term operation and work under cyclic loads. Further research prospects are concerned with expanding the range of boron­containing compounds under study, and with a comprehensive analysis of their inhibitory properties to use these compounds in aluminum, magnesium and titanium alloys used in aviation technology.