A comparative study of the corrosion inhibition of mild steel in sulphuric acid by 4,4-dimethyloxazolidine-2-thione

The corrosion protection of mild steel in a 2.5 M H2SO4 solution by 4,4-dimethyloxazolidine-2-thione (DMT) was studied at different temperatures by measuring changes in open circuit potential (OCP), potentiodynamic polarisation and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Corrosion current densities calculated from EIS data were comparable to those obtained from polarisation measurements. Results showed that DMT inhibited mild steel corrosion in a 2.5 M H2SO4 solution and indicated that the inhibition efficiencies increased with the concentration of inhibitor, but decreased proportionally with temperature. Polarisation curves showed that DMT is a mixed-type inhibitor. Changes in impedance parameters suggested the adsorption of DMT on the mild steel surface, leading to the formation of protective films. The DMT adsorption on the mild steel surface followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for dissolution and adsorption were investigated. Comprehensive adsorption (physisorption and chemisorption) of the inhibitor molecules on the mild steel surface was suggested based on the thermodynamic adsorption parameters.