Corrosion inhibition of copper-phosphorus brazing alloys in tetra-n-butylammonium bromide aerated aqueous solution by benzotriazole

The corrosion inhibition behavior of benzotriazole (BTA) on a brazing alloy, CuP in the non-welded and welded conditions in 17wt% (0.534mol/L) tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (TBAB) aerated aqueous solution was investigated by potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy techniques. The experimental results showed that BTA could protect effectively copper alloys in aqueous TBAB solution. The inhibition efficiency of BTA increased with increasing inhibitor concentration from 0.1 to 6g/L, attaining efficiencies of up to 96% calculated according to different methodologies. Corrosion current densities were lower after the melting process. Galvanic studies showed that copper behaved as the anode when coupled to its alloys. The addition of BTA caused an increase in charge transfer resistance and a decrease in the capacitance of the double layer. Adsorption of BTA in 17wt% TBAB solution on the copper alloys' surface was found to obey the Langmuir adsorption isotherm.