Application of some ferrocene derivatives in the field of corrosion inhibition

Three ferrocene derivatives, namely 1,1′-diacetylferrocene (Diacetyl Fc), 1,1′-diformylferrocene (Diformyl Fc) and 2-benzimidazolythioacetylferrocene (BIM Fc) were synthesized and their inhibitive effects against mild steel corrosion in aerated 0.5 M H₂SO₄ and 1 M HCl solutions were evaluated. Corrosion measurements based on polarization resistance (R_p), potentiodynamic polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) indicate that Diacetyl Fc, in most cases, accelerates mild steel corrosion in HCl while Diformyl Fc and BIM Fc act as weak inhibitors. In H₂SO₄ solution, ferrocene derivatives show good inhibition performance. The efficiency of the inhibitors follows the order: BIM Fc > Diformyl Fc ? Diacetyl Fc. Adsorption of both Diacetyl Fc and Diformyl Fc obey Langmuir adsorption isotherm with very low value of free energy of adsorption ΔG^° for the Diformyl Fc (physisorption) while adsorption of BIM Fc follows that of Frumkin with high negative value of ΔG^° (chemisorption). Both Diformyl Fc and BIM Fc act as mixed-type inhibitors with predominant effect on the anodic dissolution of iron. Analysis of the polarization curves and impedance spectra indicates that charge transfer process mainly controls mild steel corrosion in H₂SO₄ solution without and with ferrocene compounds. The mechanism of corrosion inhibition or acceleration by ferrocene derivatives was discussed in the light of the molecular structure of the additives.