Mild Steel Corrosion Inhibitor in An Acidic Media Study by Using a Natural Inhibitor (Ascorbic Acid)

The study investigates ascorbic acid prevents mild steel from corroding in a 1 M HCl solution. Weight loss and electrochemical methods (Potentiodynamic Polarization) were used to assess the inhibition's effectiveness. Results indicated that ascorbic acid is an appropriate mixed-type inhibitor, its strength depends on the concentration. It showed a maximum inhibition found at 94 % with concentration 500 ppm. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm was found to describe the adsorption of the ascorbic acid molecules that occurred on the surface of the steel. SEM (scanning electron microscopy) was used to analyze the surface of the metal which is covered with protective layer which acts as inhibitor. Among the studies that can be cited is that ascorbic acid has high potential to become a low-cost, non-toxic yet effective corrosion inhibitor in the industrial cleaning of the acidic environments.