Triethylenetetramine (TETA)

What Does Triethylenetetramine (TETA) Mean?

Triethylenetetramine is a chemical substance that occurs in the form of an oily, dense yellowish liquid. It has the molecular formula C₆H₁₈N₄ and is widely used to manufacture corrosion inhibitor fluids.

The use of triethylenetetramine as a corrosion inhibitor is one of the many methods available to protect metals against corrosion. Triethylenetetramine also serves as a corrosion inhibitor for zinc metal in a 0.5N HCl acid solution.

Triethylenetetramine is also referred to as TETA.

Corrosionpedia Explains Triethylenetetramine (TETA)

Triethylenetetramine (TETA) is used as a corrosion inhibitor for metallic surfaces that are used in aqueous media applications.

It was empirically discovered that TETA is effective for corrosion prevention by introducing steel into chloride-contaminated concrete specimens through a technique called bidirectional electromigration rehabilitation (BIEM). BIEM involves the following actions to successfully execute:

1. Introduction of an electric field between the steel cathodes and external anodes
2. Injection of TETA from the external electrolytes
3. Extraction of the chloride ions
4. Drilling to search for concentration profiles of the corrosion inhibitor, chlorides and hydroxyl ions after completion