Abdelouahad Chala

The influence of temperature on the corrosion inhibition of API 5L X42 pipeline steel in HCl medium by gum arabic

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the influence of temperature (25-65°C) on the adsorption and the inhibition efficiency of gum arabic (GA) for the corrosion of API 5L X42 pipeline steel in 1M HCl. Design/methodology/approach Inhibition behaviour on steel in HCl has been studied in relation to the concentration of the inhibitor and the temperature using potentiodynamic polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Thermodynamic parameters of adsorption were calculated from the viewpoint of adsorption theory. Findings The results show that at a temperature range from 25 to 65°C, GA was a good inhibitor for API 5L X42 pipeline steel, and its inhibition efficiency was significantly stable. The maximum inhibition efficiency (93 per cent) is obtained at 4 g L−1. In absence and presence of GA, there is almost no change in the corrosion mechanism regardless of the temperature. The adsorption of GA on steel surface is an exothermic process. The adsorption of GA involves physical adsorption. Practical implications The use of GA as an eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor is practical for carbon steel in HCl. Originality/value The stability of inhibition efficiency of GA at a temperature range from 25 to 65°C could find possible applications in acid pickling, industrial acid cleaning and acid descaling.