Abstract

BASELLA ALBA L. EXTRACT AS CORROSION INHIBITOR FOR MILD STEEL IN ACID MEDIUM

J. Rosaline Vimala*, P. Priyadharshini and R. Helanthin Prasanthi

ABSTRACT

Extract of Basella alba L. leaves was investigated as a corrosion inhibitor of mild steel in 1 N HCl using conventional weight loss, electrochemical polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopic studies. The weight loss results showed that the extract of Basella alba L. leaves is an excellent corrosion inhibitor, electrochemical polarization data revealed the mixed mode of inhibition, and the results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy have shown that the change in the impedance parameters, charge transfer resistance, and double layer capacitance, with the change in concentration of the extract, is due to the adsorption of active molecules leading to the formation of a protective layer on the surface of mild steel. Scanning electron microscope studies provided the confirmatory evidence of an improved surface condition, due to the adsorption, for the corrosion protection.

Keywords: Basella alba L. acid corrosion inhibitor, electrochemical polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, mild steel.