Theoretical and experimental investigations on corrosion control of mild steel in hydrochloric acid solution by 4-aminothiophenol

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to study inhibitory effect of 4-aminothiophenol on the corrosion of mild steel (MS) in 0.5 M HCl. Design/methodology/approach In this study, electrochemical experiments, quantum chemical calculations, potentiodynamic measurements, linear polarization resistance and scanning electron microscopy were used. Findings The experimental results suggest that this compound is efficient corrosion inhibitor and the inhibition efficiencies increase with increasing their (from 0.5 to 10.0 mM.) concentrations. This reveals that inhibitive actions of inhibitors were mainly due to adsorption on mild steel surface. The adsorption of these inhibitors was found to obey Langmuir adsorption model. The computed quantum chemical features show good correlation with empirical inhibition efficiencies. Originality/value The 4-aminothiophenol is suitable inhibitor for application in closed-circuit systems against corrosion. The study is original and has great impact in industrial area. The obtained theoretical results have been adapted with the experimental data.