Inhibition of carbon steel corrosion by 4‐vinylbenzyl triphenyl phosphonium chloride in HCl solution

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study electrochemically and by weight loss experiments the effect of 4‐vinylbenzyl triphenyl phosphonium chloride on the corrosion inhibition of mild steel in 1.0 M HCl solution, which will serve researchers in the field of corrosion.

Design/methodology/approach

Electrochemical and weight loss measurements were carried out on carbon steel specimens in 1.0 M HCl and in 1.0 M HCl containing various concentrations (1.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ M) of the laboratory synthesized 4‐vinylbenzyl triphenyl phosphonium chloride at temperatures ranging from 303 to 343 K.

Findings

4‐vinylbenzyl triphenyl phosphonium chloride was found to be a highly efficient inhibitor for carbon steel in 1.0 M HCl solution, reaching about 99 per cent at the concentration of 1 × 10⁻⁴ M at room temperature and about 96 per cent at 303 K, a concentration and temperature considered to be very moderate. The percentage of inhibition in the presence of this inhibitor was decreased with temperature which indicates that physical adsorption was the predominant inhibition mechanism because the quantity of adsorbed inhibitor decreases with increasing temperature.

Practical implications

This inhibitor could have application in industries, where hydrochloric acid solutions at elevated temperatures are used to remove scale and salts from steel surfaces, such as acid cleaning of tankage and pipeline, and may render dismantling unnecessary.

Originality/value

This paper is intended to be added to the family of phosphonium salt corrosion inhibitors which are highly efficient and can be employed in the area of corrosion prevention and control.

Citation

Nahlé, A., Abu‐Abdoun, I. and Abdel‐Rahman, I. (2008), "Inhibition of carbon steel corrosion by 4‐vinylbenzyl triphenyl phosphonium chloride in HCl solution", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 55 No. 4, pp. 217-224. https://doi.org/10.1108/00035590810887727