Petroleum quaternary ammonium surfactants mixture synthesized from light naphtha as corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel in 1 m HCl

Abstract

AbstractA quaternary ammonium cationic surfactants mixture was synthesized from light naphtha, petroleum fraction. The mixture was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV/Visible spectroscopy and was evaluated as a corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in 1 m HCl, by gravimetry, potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results showed that inhibiting efficiency increased with inhibitor concentration and temperature, and was independent of pH (in the range of 0–4) and immersion time; its optimal value was up to 84% for 560 mg/l at 25°C. Experimental data showed that the cationic surfactants mixture acts as a mixed (anodic and cathodic) inhibitor and conformed to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed the inhibiting capacity of the mixture against carbon steel acid corrosion.