Corrosion Inhibition of Stainless Steel in 1.0 M Hydrochloric Acid Solution Using Novel Nonionic Surfactant: Electrochemical and Density Functional Theory/B3LYP/6-31G* Analysis

Abstract

The paper deals with the analysis of a new surfactant obtained from the lauryl myristyl alcohol ethoxylate designated here LMAEO-9 which is studied as corrosion inhibitor in an acidic medium. Its chemical structure was investigated using proton nuclear magnetic resonance and its critical micelles concentration was measured via the tension of the surface. The analysis of the inhibition efficiency for the dissolution of stainless steel 304 in 1.0 m hydrochloric acid was performed using electrochemical and nonelectrochemical methods with and without different concentrations, confirming the data by quantum calculations. The measured data included the substance temperature, its concentration and composition. The adsorption of this compound on the stainless steel 304 surface obeyed the Langmuir isotherm. Studies of polarization have shown that this surfactant acts as mixed (both anodic and cathodic) inhibitor. The attenuated total reflection infrared and the atomic force microscopy techniques revealed the effect of this inhibitor on the stainless steel 304 surface morphology. The parameters were analyzed and calculated in an active state of the substrate. All data obtained vis various techniques were consistent and in line with each other.