Complexes of Imidazole with Poly(ethylene glycol) as a Corrosion Inhibitor for Carbon Steel in Sulphuric Acid

Abstract

The inhibiting action of polyethylene glycol and imidazole (PEG/IMZ)) complexes prepared by a simple deprotonation procedure on carbon steel corrosion in 0.5 mol/L sulphuric acid was evaluated using the weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques complemented by surface analysis using scanning electron microscopy. The inhibiting effect of the PEG/IMZ complexes on carbon steel corrosion was compared with the non-complex forms. Results obtained show that PEG/IMZ complex is a very effective corrosion inhibitor of carbon steel in the acid environment. The inhibition efficiency increased with the increase in the temperature and also with increasing percentage of imidazole in the complex. Corrosion inhibition occurs by virtue of adsorption of PEG/IMZ complexes on the steel surface which was found to follow the Temkin adsorption isotherm model. The PEG/IMZ complexes function as a mixed-type inhibitor. Results from all the methods employed are in a reasonably good agreement.