The adsorption and corrosion inhibition of some cationic gemini surfactants on carbon steel surface in hydrochloric acid

The adsorption and corrosion inhibition of the gemini surfactants 1,2-ethane bis(dimethyl alkyl (C_nH_2n+1) ammonium bromide) (designated as n−2−n, n=10, 12 and 16) on the steel surface in 1 M hydrochloride acid were studied using the weight loss method. It was found that the adsorption of the gemini surfactants on the steel surface is the main reason to cause the steel corrosion inhibition in hydrochloride acid, and the inhibition efficiency increases with the increase of surfactant concentration and reaches the maximum value near the CMC. A possible adsorption model of gemini surfactant onto the metal surface was also discussed.