Chapter 19 - The role of vegetal tannins in metal corrosion inhibition vis-à-vis agricultural wastes

Abstract

Corrosion is an electrochemical process, which deteriorates metal over time due to surface chemical actions on metals by its environment. The economic, security, and environmental consequences of corrosion make it a major scourge in recent times; therefore its control has attracted great research interest. Although corrosion inhibition research is important, environmental and corrosion inhibition cost concerns have further encouraged the use of greener (or cleaner) inhibitors. Vegetal tannins meet up with these conditions considering that they are a class of natural, nontoxic, biodegradable organic compounds that can be obtained at reduced cost. This book chapter therefore focuses on the uses of vegetal tannins in corrosion protection in recent past. Several methods of inhibition efficiency evaluations along with their action mechanisms are discussed. The present review presents some evolutionary works involving the uses of vegetal tannins in metal corrosion protection.