What is the function of scale inhibitors

Scale inhibitor is a chemical substance mainly used to prevent and reduce the formation and deposition of hard scale such as calcium scale and magnesium scale in water systems. Its functions include:

Inhibition of salt crystallization: Scale inhibitors can inhibit the crystallization of soluble salts (such as calcium and magnesium ions) in water to form hard scale under high temperature or concentration conditions. They will change the crystal form and structure of salts, making them more difficult to crystallize.

Ion exchange: Some components in scale inhibitors have ion exchange ability and can react with alkaline metal ions such as calcium and magnesium ions in water to form soluble complexes or stable compounds. In this way, calcium and magnesium ions will not deposit in the form of solid scale.

Dispersion effect: Scale inhibitors can disperse small particles in water (such as iron oxide, aluminum hydroxide, quartz, etc.) evenly through the dispersion mechanism, preventing them from gathering and forming precipitation particles, and reducing the probability of scale pad formation.

Corrosion inhibition effect: Some scale inhibitors also have a corrosion inhibition effect, which can form a protective film on the metal surface to prevent metal from being corroded and corrosion products from further participating in the formation of scale pads.

Overall, scale inhibitors reduce the formation of scale mats in water through various mechanisms such as salt crystallization inhibition, ion exchange, dispersion, and corrosion inhibition, maintaining the smoothness, thermal conductivity, and efficient operation of the water system. In practical applications, the specific selection and dosage of scale inhibitors need to be adjusted based on water quality characteristics and system requirements.