Imidazolium,Pyridinium and Dimethyl-Ethylbenzyl Ammonium Derived Compounds as Mixed Corrosion Inhibitors in Acidic Medium

Seven cationic surfactants: 1-methyl-3-tetradecyl imidazolium bromide, 1-methyl-3-hexadecyl imidazolium bromide, N,N-tetradecyl pyridinium bromide, N,N-hexadecyl pyridinium bromide, N,N-dimethyl-N-ethylbenzyl ammonium bromide, N,N-dimethyl-N-ethylbenzyl ammonium laurate and N,N-dimethyl-N-ethylbenzyl ammonium acetate, were investigated at different doses (10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 ppm) as corrosion inhibitors for steel grade API 5L X52 in hydrochloric acid 2 M using a weight loss technique, impedance and polarization resistance methods. The corrosion inhibition of steel grade API 5L X52 of the cationic surfactants was attributed to their molecular structure (heterocyclic ring, hydrophobic chain length and counterion) that enhances adsorption onto steel surface. The best protective efficiency of the film was higher than 90% (N,N-Dimethyl-N-ethylbenzyl ammonium acetate). It is important to know how organic inhibitor films grown on the metallic surface in order to achieve superior corrosion inhibition, hence experimental findings were described by Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy spectrums were fitted by means of the Voigt model.