CORROSION INHIBITION EFFECT OF LEAF EXTRACT FROM SAUROPUS ANDROGYNUS (L) MERR ON CARBON STEEL IN 0,1M HCL ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Carbon steel is one of the important alloys of iron which has numerous industrial and engineering applications because of its excellent mechanical properties.Even though carbon steel has wide applications, it is very much susceptible to corrosion due to its thermodynamic instability.The use of inhibitors is one of the most practical methods for protection against corrosion especially in acid solutions to prevent  metal dissolution... In this study, the effect of extract of Sauropus androgynus (L) Merr leaf  on carbon steel in 0.1M naturally-aerated HCl solution was studied as a potential corrosion inhibitor using electrochemical techniques and surface analyses by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The highest inhibition efficiency of Sauropus androgynus (L.) Merr leaf extract (93,2%) was documented at 1500ppm using electrochemical tests. Surface analysis by scanning electron microscopy indicated that a severe corrosion was observed on the steel surface exposed to solution without inhibitor addition, but less corrosion was observed on the steel surfaces exposed to the inhibited systems. So Sauropus androgynus (L.) Merr leaf extract is a very good corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in 0,1M HCl environment.