Comparative study of bis-piperidiniummethyl-urea and mono-piperidiniummethyl-urea as volatile corrosion inhibitors for mild steel

Bis-piperidiniummethyl-urea (BPMU) and mono-piperidiniummethyl-urea (MPMU) were developed as novel volatile corrosion inhibitors (VCIs). Their vapor corrosion inhibition property was evaluated by volatile inhibiting sieve test (VIS) and vapor inhibiting ability test (VIA). Volatile weight-loss test in a closed space was used to compare their volatility. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of a volatile corrosion inhibitor monitor (VCIM) was applied to study the effect of BPMU and MPMU on the corrosion inhibition of mild steel in thin electrolyte layer. The results show that BPMU has the better protection effect compared with MPMU. Adsorption of BPMU and MPMU on steel surface was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was shown that one BPMU molecule has two N atoms to coordinate with one Fe atom, and that one MPMU molecule has one N atom to coordinate with one Fe atom. The quantum chemical parameters were obtained by PM3 semi-empirical method. BPMU has the smaller HOMO–LUMO energy gap and the smaller net positive charge intensities of 4N and 8N atoms in its molecule.