Corrosion and corrosion inhibition of nickel in HClO4 solutions using the EQCM technique

Application of the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) to the study of metal corrosion and its inhibition is rather recent. Among the advantages of this technique are its very high sensitivity and the possibility of simultaneous mass variations and voltammogram recording. These characteristics suggest the use of the EQCM for research in very low corrosion rate conditions. This paper reports the results of EQCM measurements on the corrosion inhibition rates of Ni in 0.1m HClO4, in the absence and presence of different inhibitors in free corrosion conditions, for following inhibitors: acridine (A), benzyl quinolinium chloride (BQCl), dodecyl quinolinium bromide (DDQBr), tributylbenzyl ammonium iodide (TBNI) and potassium iodide (KI). The corrosion rate was reduced considerably by KI and TBNI. DDQBr showed a good inhibitive efficiency, while BQCl had only a small effect, and A stimulated corrosion of the Ni. Voltammograms at different scanning rates and the mass variation in the same solutions were recorded. Comparison of the current density and the mass changes provided the basis for a qualitative interpretation of the passivation of Ni and the mechanism of action of the different inhibitors.