Effect of iodide ions on corrosion inhibition of mild steel by 3,5-bis(4-methylthiophenyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole in sulfuric acid solution

The synergistic effect of iodide ions on the corrosion inhibition of mild steel in 0.5 M sulfuric acid (H2SO4) in the presence of 3,5-bis(4-methylthiophenyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole (4-MTHT) was investigated using weight loss measurements and different electrochemical techniques such as potentiostatic polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The inhibition efficiency (E, %) increased with 4-MTHT concentration, but the desorption potential (E-d) remained unchanged with increasing 4-MTHT concentration. The addition of potassium iodide (KI) enhanced E considerably and increased the value of E-d. A synergistic effect was observed between KI and 4-MTHT with an optimum mass ratio of [4-MTHT]/[KI] = 4 x 10(-2). The synergism parameters (S-theta) calculated from surface coverage were found to be more than unity. This result clearly showed the synergistic influence of iodide ions on the corrosion inhibition of mild steel in 0.5 M H2SO4 by 4-MTHT. The adsorption of this inhibitor alone and in combination with iodide ions followed Langmuir's adsorption isotherm.