Electrochemical characterization of the protective film formed by the unsymmetrical Schiff's base on the mild steel surface in acid media

The corrosion inhibition efficiency of a newly synthesized Schiff's base for the corrosion of mild steel was studied in 1.0 M HCl and 0.5 M H2SO4 solutions. The results of weight loss measurements, electrochemical impedance and potentiodynamic polarization measurements consistently demonstrated that the Schiff's base synthesized is a good corrosion inhibitor with an inhibitory efficiency of approximately 92% at an optimum inhibitor concentration of 600 mg/L. The inhibition in both of the corrosive media was observed to be a mixed type. The potential of zero charge (PZC) at the metal–solution interface was determined for both the inhibited and uninhibited solutions to provide the mechanism of inhibition. The inhibitor formed a film on the metal surface through chloride or sulfate bridges depending upon the medium. The temperature dependence of the corrosion rate was also studied in the temperature range from 27 to 50 °C. The value of the activation energy (Ea) calculated showed that the inhibition film formation on the metal surface occurred through chemisorption. The thermodynamic parameters such as the adsorption equilibrium constant (Kads) and the free energy of adsorption (ΔGads) were calculated and discussed. Several adsorption isotherms were tested and the experimental data fit well with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm.