THE INFLUENCE OF N-HEXADECYL BENZYL DIMETHYL AMMONIUM-CHLORIDE ON THECORROSION OF MILD-STEEL IN ACIDS

The influence of N-hexadecyl benzyl dimethyl ammonium chloride or cety l benzyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (CBDMAC) on the corrosion of mild steel in 5 N and 5.5 N solutions of H2SO4 and HCl has been studied usi ng techniques such as weight loss and gasometric measurements, potenti odynamic polarisation studies, linear polarisation studies and small a mplitude cyclic voltammetric studies. Inhibition efficiencies have bee n obtained both from weight loss and gasometric measurements. The effe ctiveness of the inhibitor at higher acid strength is also examined us ing 8 N acid solutions. Polarisation studies reveal that the inhibitor behaves as an anodic inhibitor in H2SO4 and as a mixed inhibitor in H Cl solutions. Measurements of values of polarisation resistance (R(p)) and the double layer capacity (C-dl) have been carried out. The effec t of temperature on corrosion inhibition has been studied and activati on energies for both the acids have been evaluated, The inhibition of corrosion of mild steel in both the acids has been attributed to micel le formation. The adsorption of the inhibitor on the mild steel surfac e from both the acids is found to obey the Temkin adsorption isotherm.