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To study and compare the inhibition effects of eco‐friendly inhibitors of sodium silicate and 1‐hydroxyethylidene 1,1 diphosphonic acid (HEDP) in corrosion control and prevention of soft water discolouration (red water) in carbon steel pipelines.

Electrochemical impedance and Tafel polarization measurements were used to study corrosion inhibition properties. The experiments were carried out under different concentration ratios of inhibitors. Different hydrodynamic conditions were applied to simulate pipeline fluid flow. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and EDAX analysis were used for surface studies.

It was observed that corrosion inhibitor combinations under static conditions showed synergistic effects at low concentrations. The inhibition efficiency and synergistic behaviours of inhibitors were enhanced as the electrolyte turbulence was increased. In addition, the inhibitor concentration value required to reach maximum inhibition decreased. It was found that at 20 ppm sodium silicate and 5 ppm HEDP, co‐inhibition efficiencies increased significantly to more than 90 per cent and the corrosion rate decreased far below 1 mpy as the electrode rotational speed was increased. Surface studies using SEM revealed the formation of a compact and uniform film of co‐inhibitors.

The results of this paper can be used for the development of effective, non‐toxic and economically attractive corrosion inhibitor formulations for soft water transmission pipelines.

The observed synergistic behaviour can be due to the incorporation of the silicate gel‐like network through organic phosphorous bonds. The hydrodynamic condition of the electrolyte leads to enhancement of inhibition efficiency, which indicates that the corrosion inhibition was mass transfer controlled.