Performance of 4-methyl-2-(1-aminoethyl)-1,3-thiazole in mitigating mild steel corrosion in hydrochloric acid

This study investigates the potential corrosion inhibitory effect of 4-methyl-2-(1-aminoethyl)-1,3-thiazole (MAT) on mild steel in a corrosive 1 M HCl solution, utilizing weight loss techniques complemented by Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. The inhibition efficiency was found to increase with both the concentration of the inhibitor and the immersion time of the mild steel samples in the HCl solution. At an inhibitor concentration of 0.5 mM and an immersion time of 5 hours at 303 K, the inhibition efficiency reached an impressive 88.5%. Moreover, the effect of temperature on the inhibition efficiency was also studied, revealing a slight increase in efficiency with rising temperature, ranging from 303 to 333 K. The quantum chemical parameters computed by DFT provide insights into the molecular interactions and confirm the experimental results, enhancing our understanding of the inhibitor's mechanism of action. Adsorption isotherm studies indicate that the inhibitor adheres to the Langmuir adsorption model, confirming the strong affinity of MAT for the metal surface. These findings underscore the potential of this compound as an effective corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in acidic environments. The combination of experimental and theoretical approaches in this study offers a comprehensive understanding of the inhibitor's performance, paving the way for the development of efficient and environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors for industrial applications. This study highlights the promising use of MAT in mitigating corrosion and contributes to the broader field of corrosion science.