Corrosion inhibition of mild steel in sulphuric acid solutions by using tetra methyl ammonium bromide (TMAB)

Abstract

The corrosion inhibition of mild steel in one normal sulphuric acid solution by tetra methyl ammonium bromide (TMAB) has been studied in relation to the concentration of the inhibitor as well as the temperature using electrochemical polarization (galvanostatic and potentiostatic polarizations) techniques. The results were supplemented with scanning electron microcopy and infra-red spectroscopy. All the methods employed are in reasonable agreement. There is no particular relationship of inhibition with concentration and temperatures. The thermodynamic functions of dissolution and adsorption processes were calculated from experimental polarization data and the interpretation of the results are given. Adsorption of TMAB was found to follow the Langmuir’s adsorption isotherm. TMAB is a mixed type of inhibitor. Key words: Tetra methyl ammonium bromide (TMAB), corrosion inhibitors, mild steel, sulphuric acid (H2SO4), thermodynamic functions, adsorption process, scanning electron microscope (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR) spectra.