Gum Arabic-silver nanoparticles composite as a green anticorrosive formulation for steel corrosion in strong acid media

A green anticorrosive composite (GA-AgNPs) has been formulated for steel in 15% HCl and 15% H2SO4 media. Characterization of GA-AgNPs is achieved via FTIR, UV-vis, EDAX, and SEM. Gravimetric, electrochemical (EIS, EFM, DEIS, & TP), and surface assessment (SEM, EDAX, AFM, & XPS) techniques have been deployed in the anticorrosion studies. Results from all applied methods potray GA-AgNPs as effective anticorrosive agent. Inhibition is by adsorption mechanism and follows Langmuir isotherm. GA-AgNPs acts as mixed type inhibitor in 15% H2SO4 solution but as anodic type in 15% HCl solution. Results from surface techniques confirm adsorption of GA-AgNPs molecules on specimen surface. Oxides, hydroxides, carbonates, and sulphates (H2SO4 medium) or chlorides (HCl medium) are the corrosion products in the free corrodent according to XPS results. In the presence of composite, both ionic and neutral forms of GA-AgNPS are adsorbed. AgNPs are present on the surface in the form: Ag°, Ag2O, and AgO.