Cefalexin drug: A new and efficient corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in hydrochloric acid solution

Corrosion inhibition of mild steel in 1N HCl by cefalexin has been studied by electrochemical and weight loss measurements. The inhibitor showed increase in inhibition efficiency with increase in inhibitor concentration up to optimum concentration 400 ppm. Potentiodynamic polarization suggests that it is a mixed type of inhibitor. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to investigate the mechanism of corrosion inhibition. Thermodynamic parameters were calculated to investigate mechanism of inhibition. AFM is used to investigate the surface morphology of the uninhibited and inhibited mild steel.