Corrosion Inhibition of Mild Steel in Sulphuric Acid Solution by Using Polyethylene Glycol Methyl Ether (PEGME)

Abstract

The corrosion inhibition of mild steel in one normal sulphuric acid solution by PEGME has been studied in relation to the concentration of the inhibitor as well as the temperature using electrochemical polarization (galvanostatic and potentiostatic) techniques. The results were supplemented with scanning electron microscopy and infra-red spectroscopy. All the methods employed are in reasonable agreement. There is no particular relationship of inhibition with concentration and temperatures. The thermodynamic functions of dissolution and adsorption processes were calculated from experimental polarization data and the interpretation of the results is given. Adsorption of PEGME was found to follow the Langmuir's adsorption isotherm. PEGME is a mixed type of inhibitor.