• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.20-32
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• 2024

Metal corrosion in acidic environments is a major issue in various industrial applications. This study evaluates the 4-piperonylideneaminoantipyrine (PPDAA) corrosion inhibition efficiency for mild steel in a hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution. The weight loss method was used to determine the corrosion inhibition efficiency at different concentrations and immersion time periods. Results revealed that the highest inhibition efficiency (94.3%) was achieved at 5 mM concentration after 5 hours of immersion time. To inspect the surface morphology of the inhibitor film on the mild steel surface, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used before and after immersion in 1.0 M HCl. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to investigate the molecular structure and electronic properties of the inhibitor molecule to understand the corrosion inhibition mechanism. Theoretical results showed that the inhibitor molecule can adsorb onto the mild steel surface through its nitrogen and oxygen atoms, forming a protective layer that prevents HCl corrosive attack. These findings highlight the potential of PPDAA as an effective corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in HCl solution. Moreover, combining experimental and theoretical approaches provides insights into the mechanism of corrosion inhibition, which is essential for developing effective strategies to prevent metal corrosion in acidic environments.