Corrosion mitigation of carbon steel in sulfuric and hydrochloric acid solutions by Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp. leaf extract

It is widely recognized that corrosion has been a persistent issue throughout human history. Over time, various effective strategies have been suggested and successfully employed to combat this problem. Among them, the utilization of inhibitors stands out as a promising, versatile, and easily applicable method. Considering the drawbacks associated with previous substances such as environmental concerns and high operational expenses, plant extracts have emerged as an effective alternative. In there, Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp. stands out as a popular species characterized by a high concentration of polar compounds that is crucial for the formation of a protective film layer on carbon steel. Consequently, this work centers on investigating the corrosion inhibition behavior of Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp. leaf water-extract (SPWE) for carbon steel in different solutions, including 1.0 M HCl, 0.5 M H2SO4, and co-volume acidic mixture, by employing electrochemical and surface techniques. The findings reveal that 2000 ppm of SPWE proved inhibition efficiency exceeding 94.24, 66.27, and 95.02% (estimated by Tafel extrapolation) for carbon steel in 1.0 M HCl, 0.5 M H2SO4, and acidic mixture solutions, respectively. High inhibition performance was also ensured by high polarization resistances (Rp) observed on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and linear polarization resistance (LPR). Increasing corrosion resistance could be due to the protective layer formed on the inhibited samples, while severe corrosion occurred on the uninhibited steel due to extensive damage across the entire surface. Hence, the study underscores the noteworthy impact of chloride and sulfate ions on corrosive inhibition process of SPWE.