Eco-friendly Inhibitors for Corrosion Protection of Stainless steel: An Overview

Abstract

Corrosion is a major concern in the industrial application of ferrous alloys, this is as a result of the enormous cost involved in damages, maintenance and corrosion control. Stainless steels have high corrosion resistance capacity because of the existence of chromium, which forms a passive film layer of chromium-rich oxide in the presence of oxygen at lower temperatures; this forms a barrier against the surrounding. However, this layer could be damaged in aggressive environments. This necessitates attention from researchers worldwide for novel, cost effective, and environmental friendly corrosion prevention techniques. Inhibitors are extensively applied in the industry to minimize the corrosion degradation of metallic alloys; however, most inhibitors are hazardous and expensive. These toxic effects have led to the use of natural products as anticorrosion agents which are eco-friendly and harmless. This review briefly discusses some of the eco-friendly substances which are used as corrosion inhibitors for stainless steel in aggressive media.