Investigating the potential of 1,2,4-triazoles as corrosion inhibitors for copper and steel: A comprehensive review

1,2,4-triazole derivatives own a diverse range of activities that signify their promising applicability in medicinal as well as in material chemistry. Various applications on the credit of this nucleus are pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, dyestuff, optical brighteners, photoreceptors, the ink industry, and corrosion inhibitors. This review shows the anti-corrosion effect of 1,2,4-triazoles regarding their potential to protect metal surfaces of mild steel (MS), carbon steel, and copper and its alloys from environmental effects through 2018–2023. Corrosion of these alloys, leading to financial loss and safety risks, and the plausibility of thwarting this process has encountered much attention from the scientific community and society. Safeguarding MS, CS, and copper is integral to lengthening the life of appliances. Triazole derivatives have suitable molecular geometry, providing excellent corrosion prevention in various acidic conditions. A variety of substituents on the triazole ring provide versatile inhibitory effects. Ease of synthesis, stability under acidic conditions, non-toxicity, eco-friendly nature, and enviable inhibition efficiencies (IEs) of 1,2,4-triazole derivatives distinguish them as CIs. This review explores the mode of inhibition, the effect of inhibitor concentration, and the type of medium (acid/base) on the IE of triazole derivatives on such metals and alloys. Moreover, this review explains the mechanism of action and IEs of reported derivatives investigated by Potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The review would be helpful for synthetic chemists to design new 1,2,4-triazole derivatives as CIs with better efficiencies.