Investigation of a hydrophobically associating AMAHS polyacrylamides: A new corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in HCl.

A polyacrylamide with capsaicin‐derived monomers (AM–MAA–AMPS–HMBA–SMA; AMAHS) was synthesized and investigated as a novel environment‐friendly polymer inhibitor for Q235 mild steel at 25°C in 1 M HCl solution. The inhibition efficiency was evaluated by weight loss measurements, electrochemical experiments, and surface investigation methods as well as by theoretical calculations. Experimental results indicated that the efficiency of AMAHS was up to 94.86% at the concentration of 2 g/L. Electrochemical tests and surface morphology analysis showed that AMAHS served as a mixed‐type corrosion inhibitor, which could be adsorbed and self‐assembled on the surface of mild steel forming a highly hydrophobic protective film (contact angle of 172°). Density functional theory calculations revealed that heteroatoms in AMAHS, such as O, N, S, are active sites in forming coordination bonds with surface iron atoms. In addition, hydrophobic groups played an important role in protecting the metal surfaces from corrosion media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]