Corrosion inhibition of some azole derivatives on carbon steel in hydrochloric acid solution

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is investigate the inhibition efficiency of three similar bi-cyclic organic compounds, namely, benzimidazole (BI), benzotriazole (BTAH) and benzothiazole (BTH) on carbon steel in 1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution. Organic inhibitors are widely used to protect metals in acidic media. Among abundant suggestions for acid corrosion inhibitors, azole compounds have gained attention. Design/methodology/approach - The inhibition efficiency of the three organic compounds was investigated using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Findings - Superiorities of BTH and BTAH corrosion inhibitors were shown by EIS data and polarization curves. Moreover, the results revealed that BTAH and BTH can function as effective mixed-type adsorptive inhibitors, whereas no inhibition behavior was observed for BI. Both BTAH and BTH obeyed Longmuir adsorption isotherm. The results obtained from this isotherm showed that both inhibitors adsorbed on the specimen surface physically and chemically. The difference in inhibition efficiencies of BTAH, BTH and BI was related to the presence of nitrogen and sulfur hetero atoms on their molecular structures. Originality/value - This study evaluated inhibition efficiency of BI, BTAH and BTH using electrochemical methods. In addition, the study attempted to find inhibition mechanism of the inhibitors and to find modes of adsorption of the inhibitors, correlating effects of heteroatoms and inhibition efficiency.