Acid corrosion of metals and its inhibition. A critical review of the current problem state

Abstract

A critical analysis of the current state of studies on the acid corrosion of metals and its inhibition based on data presented in more than 100 review articles, mainly those published over the past 10 years, is presented. The industrial application of acid solutions at enterprises of the oil-and-gas and metallurgical industries and at housing and communal services objects, the specifics of metal corrosion in acid environments, the assortment of corrosion inhibitors (CIs) of metals in these environments, and the specifics of the mechanism of their protective action are considered. Theoretical studies in the field of inhibitory protection of metals in acid solutions should be aimed at determining the true rather than effective values of the thermodynamic parameters of CI adsorption. To identify the features of the mechanism of CI action, a wider range of electrochemical methods (voltammetry and EIS) has to be involved. A thorough theoretical study of the issues of creating mixed CIs is also required, taking into account their prospects for industrial use. Despite the existence of numerous reviews dealing with environmentally friendly (“green”) CIs, the practical implementation of this approach is currently very difficult. In fact, no clear criteria based on which environmentally friendly CI for acid media could be searched for have been formulated. Moreover, no detailed studies exist that would make it possible to estimate the compliance of environmentally friendly CIs with the full set of requirements for products recommended for application in industrial environments. As an alternative, a technology should be developed for application of inhibited acid solutions that meet the production and environmental requirements of modern industry. The bibliography includes 127 sources.