Corrosion inhibition of mild steel by plant extract in dilute HCl medium

The inhibition effect of Zenthoxylum alatum plant extract on the corrosion of mild steel in 5% and 15% aqueous hydrochloric acid solution has been investigated by weight loss and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The corrosion inhibition efficiency increases on increasing plant extract concentration till 2400 ppm. The effect of temperature on the corrosion behaviour of mild steel in 5% and 15% HCl with addition of plant extract was studied in the temperature range 50-80 degrees C. Surface analysis (SEM, XPS and FT-IR) was also carried out to establish the corrosion inhibitive property of this plant extract in HCl solution. Plant extract is able to reduce the corrosion of steel more effectively in 5% HCl than in 15% HCl. The adsorption of this plant extract on the mild steel surface obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.