Corrosion inhibition and adsorption behavior of imidazoline salt on N80 carbon steel in CO2-saturated solutions and its synergism with thiourea

Abstract

The inhibition and adsorption behavior of 2-undecyl-1-sodium ethanoate-imidazoline salt (2M2) and thiourea (TU) on N80 mild steel in CO2-saturated 3 wt.% NaCl solutions was studied at 25 °C, pH 4, and 1 bar CO2 partial pressure using electrochemical methods. It was found that inhibition efficiency (η%) increased with increase in 2M2 concentration but decreased with increase in TU concentration with optimum η% value at 20 mg l−1 TU. The data suggest that the compounds functioned via a mixed-inhibitor mechanism. The inhibition process is attributed to the formation of an adsorbed film of 2M2 and TU via the inhibitors polycentric adsorption sites on the metal surface which protects the metal against corrosion. A synergistic effect was observed between TU and 2M2. Potential of unpolarizability, Eu, was observed in the presence of 100 mg l−1 TU which was shifted positively in the presence of 2M2–100 mg l–1 TU blends, which suggests that the presence of 2M2 stabilized the adsorption of TU molecules on the surface of the metal. The adsorption characteristics of 2M2 were approximated by Langmuir adsorption isotherm.