Insight into the anti-corrosion performance of Acanthopanax senticosus leaf extract as eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in acidic medium.

[Display omitted] • The extract of acanthopanax senticosus leaf (ASLE), prepared using pure water extraction, can act as an eco-friendly novel corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in HCl solution. • The long-term corrosion inhibition performance of ASLE is superior, the maximum value reaches 98.79 % for 150 mg/L at 144 h. • ASLE can form a hydrophobic protective film through physical–chemical adsorption. In this work, the extract of acanthopanax senticosus leaf (ASLE), prepared using one-step pure water extraction method, is firstly utilized as a sustainable eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in acidic solutions. The corrosion inhibition efficiency is evaluated by weight loss method and electrochemical tests, including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization curve. The compositions of ASLE are analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, components and microstructures of corrosion products are characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results indicate that ASLE is successfully prepared using the clean production process, and it can act as an efficient mixed-type corrosion inhibitor for Q235 carbon steel in 1 mol/L HCl. The maximum corrosion inhibition efficiency can reach 98.79 % after 144 h immersion with the addition of 150 mg/L. ASLE also displays the superior long-term corrosion inhibition performance. The protective hydrophobic adsorption film can effectively retard the invasion of aggressive ions and inhibit the corrosion of carbon steel in acidic service occasions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]