Corrosion Inhibition of Mild Steel in Acidic Media by N-[(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)Methyleneamino]-4-Hydroxy-Benzamide

Mild steel (a low carbon steel) is an affordable engineering material used for many purposes in various environments including mild acidic environment with some precautions. The corrosion behaviour of mild steel (MS) in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ and 0.5 M HCl, in the temperature range (303–323 K) without and with the inhibitor N-[(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) methyleneamino]-4-hydroxy-benzamide (DMHB), was investigated using Potentiodynamic polarization and Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques supplementing with surface characterization study using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force spectroscopy (AFM). Experimental observations were found to be in agreement with Density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The inhibition efficiency increases with increase in DMHB concentration and showed maximum inhibition efficiency of 86% in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ and 81% in 0.5 M HCl, respectively, at concentration of 3 × 10^─3 M at 303 K. The inhibition efficiency of DMHB obtained relatively at its lower concentration (3 × 10^─3 M) compared to other reported related compounds confirms its potential towards corrosion inhibition. The variation in the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters indicated physisorption of DMHB on MS and its mixed type inhibitive action followed Langmuir’s isotherm model. DFT calculations go along with the experimental results, signifying the potential corrosion inhibition behaviour of DMHB for MS in both the acid media.