Effect of Immersion and Green Inhibitor to Corrosion Rate of Carbon Steel

Abstract

Corrosion is the reaction between the material and the environment that cause degradation of the material. Corrosion reduces the essential properties of materials such as strength, appearance, toughness and life expectancy. Carbon steels are composed of a mixture of metallic iron and carbon and being used extensively in every sector due to good mechanical properties and good cost. However, carbon steel are every susceptible to corrosion attack especially in corrosive environment. The use of inhibitors is one of the best options to protect against corrosion on metals and alloys especially in a closed system. Inhibitor is a chemical substance which can reduce corrosion attack when added into electrolyte. The organic inhibitor used in this study was from banana peel (scientific name Musa sapieutum) to extract tannin-a compound which can provide protective layer on metal [1-3]. The results elucidate that banana peel can be used as green inhibitor on canbon steel, however, the effect only can be seen when added with 10% and more. The immersion test was done to evaluate the effect of corrosion product to corrosion rate. The results explained that corrosion rate fluctuated during immersion period due to developed and dissolved of soluble product into electrolyte. The research provide a set of data elucidate that corrosion product developed on carbon steel cannot provide corrosion protection on carbon steel, however, using green inhibitor in high concentrations which is purely not harmful to environment could prevent corrosion attack on carbon steel.