Corrosion inhibitor compositions comprising tetrahydrobenzotriazoles solubilized in activating solvents and methods for using same

1. A composition comprising: one or more tetrahydrobenzotriazoles having the general formulas Ia or Ib:

wherein R 1 is one or more of: hydrogen, a hydroxy group, or an aliphatic group; and wherein R 2 is hydrogen, or an aliphatic group; or a salt of the tetrahydrobenzotriazole;

one or more other triazoles having the general formula II:

wherein R 3 is one or more of: hydrogen, a hydroxy group, aliphatic group, or an aromatic group and wherein R 4 is hydrogen, or an aliphatic group; or salts of the other triazoles; and one or more tetrahydrobenzotriazole activating solvents which are one or more of: methanol; ethanol; propanol; isopropanol; butanol; isobutanol; pentanol; isopentanol, hexanol; isohexanol; propylene glycol; ethylene diglycol; diethylene glycol; triethylene glycol; dipropylene glycol; butylene glycol; butyl diethylene glycol; glycerol; methyl, ethyl, propyl and/or butyl monoethers of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or dipropylene glycol; polyethylene glycol; polypropylene glycol; random-added polypropylene polyethylene glycols; or block copolymers of ethylene and propylene oxide;

wherein the tetrahydrobenzotriazoles are solubilized in the activating solvents in an amount effective to inhibit corrosion of a metal or metal alloy which is corrodible in the presence of copper or copper corroding agents; and

wherein the combination of the tetrahydrobenzotriazoles and the activating solvents comprise from about 10 to about 90% by weight of the tetrahydrobenzotriazoles and from about 10 to about 90% by weight of the activating solvents.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the one or more tetrahydrobenzotriazoles are one or more of: tetrahydrobenzotriazole; or tetrahydrotolyltriazole.

3. The composition of claim 2 , wherein the one or more tetrahydrobenzotriazoles are tetrahydrotolyltriazole.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the one or more activating solvents are one or more of: propylene glycol; ethylene diglycol; diethylene glycol; triethylene glycol; dipropylene glycol; butylene glycol; butyl diethylene glycol; glycerol; methyl, ethyl, propyl and/or butyl monoethers of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or dipropylene glycol; polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, random-added polypropylene polyethylene glycols; or block copolymers of ethylene and propylene oxide.

5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein the one or more activating solvents are one or more of: propylene glycol; or polypropylene glycol.

6. The composition of claim 5 , wherein the one or more activating solvents are propylene glycol.

7. The composition of claim 1 , which comprises from about 35 to about 70% by weight of the tetrahydrobenzotriazoles and from about 30 to about 65% by weight of the activating solvents.