New and Green Corrosion Inhibitor Based on New Imidazole Derivate for Carbon Steel in 1 M HCl Medium: Experimental and Theoretical Analyses

In this research work, a new and green corrosion inhibitor based on new imidazole derivate (IMD) was introduced for carbon steel in 1 M HCl medium. Its inhibition properties were fully characterised by the gravimetric, electrochemical, surface and quantum chemical analyses. The experimental results confirmed that the inhibition efficiency of IMD was over 99% at 150 mg/L, forming a protective hydrophobic film on the metal surface, which maximally blocked the cathodic and anodic corrosive processes by adsorption. The electrochemical results suggested that the IMD is a mixed-type inhibitor. The adsorption behaviour of IMD was obeyed by Langmuir isotherms. The gravimetric results show that the inhibition efficiency depends on the change of concentration and temperature. The experimental tests were supported by the DFT (density functional theory) measurements, and a good relationship was found among these tests. The observed results of the surface analysis indicated that the metal surface was seriously improved with the presence of IMD.