Abstract

Schiff base 2,2’-(5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-diylidene)bis(azan-1-yl-1-ylidene) diphenol (DmChDp) was synthesized and characterized using spectroscopic methods (IR, UV, NMR, and Mass) and cyclic voltammetric (CV) studies. The corrosion inhibition potency of (DmChDp) on mild steel (MS) in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4 was investigated. The corrosion monitoring techniques employed for this purpose are gravimetric and electrochemical methods (EIS and potentiodynamic polarization studies). The study reveals that the Schiff base, DmChDp, acts as excellent corrosion inhibitor on mild steel in 1M HCl. DmChDp obeys Langmuir adsorption isotherm both in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4 on MS. Polarization studies show that DmChDp behaves as a mixed type inhibitor in both media. Scanning electron microscopic analysis established the protective nature of DmChDp on mild steel surface. The impact of temperature on the corrosion of MS was also evaluated using gravimetric method.

1. Introduction

Mild steel is used very commonly in industries because of its good weldability due to low carbon content as well as optimum mechanical properties at a cheaper cost [14]. However they easily undergo acid attack and get corroded. Acid solutions are commonly used in industries for various cleaning processes [58]. Corrosion inhibition using inhibitors is a developing field in chemistry. There are different types of inhibitors used for preventing corrosion. They include both inorganic and organic inhibitors. The toxic nature of inorganic inhibitors such as chromates and nitrites makes them less useful [9]. Environmentally benign organic inhibitors containing N, S, and/or O in the conjugated systems replace such toxic inhibitors. They inhibit the corrosion by adsorbing on metal surface forming a protective layer and thereby retard dissolution of metal in aggressive solutions [1013]. Corrosion scientists and industrialists are always in search of potential, nontoxic, economic, and water soluble inhibitors to fight against metallic corrosion. To the best of our knowledge, no investigations were reported on the corrosion inhibition capacities of Schiff base derived from 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione and 2-aminophenol. The present paper explores the corrosion inhibition capacity of 2,2’-(5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-diylidene)bis(azan-1-yl-1-ylidene)diphenol (DmChDp) on mild steel in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4 using gravimetric and electrochemical studies.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Synthesis and Characterization

Hot ethanolic solution of 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione (0.01mol) was added dropwise to a stirred solution containing 0.02 mol of 2-aminophenol dissolved in ethanol. The mixture was refluxed for about 20 minutes and cooled. The brown coloured precipitate formed was filtered, washed with distilled water, and dried. Figures 1(a) and 1(b) show the molecular structure and optimized geometry of DmChDp, respectively. Anal.calcd for C20H22N2O2: C, 74.53; H, 6.83; N, 8.69%. Found. C, 73.91; H, 6.74; N, 8.52%; IR (KBr): 1600cm−1. 1Hnmr: 9.877, 8.397. 13Cnmr: 95.88. Mass: M+ peak m/z: 322 is absent, base peak [C14H18NO]+ m/z: 216. m. p. = 180°C.

2.2. Cyclic Voltammetry

The electrochemical nature of DmChDp was investigated using cyclic voltammetric studies. Ivium CompactStat-e electrochemical system was used for this study. Three electrode systems consisting of glassy carbon, Ag-AgCl, and platinum loop were used as working electrode, reference electrode, and counter electrode, respectively, in this study [14]. 3 ml solution of DmChDp (0.1mM) in DMSO was taken in the electrolytic cell and 2 ml of supporting electrolyte (tetra butyl ammonium hexa fluoro phosphate) (0.1 M) was added. The solution was kept unstirred and the cyclic voltammogram was recorded in the potential range 1.0V to -2.0 V at a scan rate of 0.02-0.1 V/s.

2.3. Solutions

The aggressive solutions of 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4 needed for the corrosion inhibition studies were prepared by diluting analytical grade acids (Merck) with deionized water. The inhibitor solutions were prepared in aggressive solutions having a range of concentration 0.2mM-1.0mM.

2.4. Weight Loss Measurements

Mild steel (MS) coupons having size 1×1×0.96 cm were taken for weight loss studies. Before the experiment, coupons were abraded with various grades of SiC papers (100, 220, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, and 2000), washed with acetone followed by distilled water, and dried. The area and thickness of each MS coupons were measured and weighed. It is then immersed in 50ml acid solutions at 28°C in hanging position with and without DmChDp using fishing lines. Weight loss of the metal coupons was recorded after 24 h. The corrosion rate () was found out using the following equation [15]:where K=87600, W, S, D, t denotes average weight loss of coupon (g), total area of specimen (cm2), density of mild steel (g cm−3), and period of contact of metal with acid solution (h), respectively. The percentage of inhibition potency was calculated using the following equation [16, 17]:where and represent corrosion rate of specimens in contact with the acid medium without and with DmChDp, respectively.

2.5. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS)

The impedance studies were executed using Ivium CompactStat-e electrochemical system. Three electrode systems consisting of platinum electrode having 1cm2 area as counter electrode, saturated calomel electrode (SCE) as the reference electrode, metal specimen with an exposed area of 1cm2 as working electrode were used for the studies. 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4 were used as electrolytic solutions. Before each measurement, the working area of metal specimen was made into contact with the electrolyte for about 30 minutes. EIS measurements were determined at constant potential (OCP) in the frequency range 1 KHz- 100 MHz with amplitude of 10 mV as excitation signal. The corrosion inhibition potency was determined using charge transfer resistance obtained from impedance plots by the following expression [18]:where and represent charge transfer resistance of working electrode in contact with the acid medium with and without DmChDp, respectively.

2.6. Potentiodynamic Polarization

The change of electrode potential of MS specimen in the test solution was studied under open circuit conditions. Electrochemical polarization studies involve the analysis of anodic and cathodic potentiodynamic polarization curves of MS specimen in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4 with and without DmChDp. Polarization studies were carried out by varying the potential of working electrode from -250 to +250 mV relative to the corrosion potential () at a scan rate of 1mV/sec. Corrosion current density () was obtained by interpolating anodic and cathodic curves to the potential axis by which the percentage of inhibition potency () was calculated using the following equation [19, 20]:where and denote the corrosion current densities of working electrode in contact with the acidic medium, without and with DmChDp.

2.7. Scanning Electron Microscopy

The surface morphology of mild steel specimens was determined using scanning electron microscope (JEOL Model JSM - 6390LV) after treatment with 1M HCl or 0.5M H2SO4 solutions with and without DmChDp for 24 h.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Cyclic Voltammetric Study

The cyclic voltammogram of DmChDp was recorded in the potential range 1.0 V/s to -2.0 V/s at a scan rate of 0.10 V/s (Figure 2(a)). There are three cathodic peaks (A, B, and C) and three anodic peaks (D, E, and F) in the forward and reverse scan, respectively. The two cathodic peaks A and B observed at a potential of 0.376 V and -0.188 V, respectively, are due to the successive one electron reduction processes occurring at two azomethine moieties. The cathodic peak observed at a potential of -1.098 V is considered due to two electron reduction occurring at two azomethine moieties since height of this peak is significantly higher than the other two cathodic peaks. The anodic peaks D and E observed at a potential of -0.421 V and -0.001 V are due to two successive one electron oxidation processes of the reduced form of DmChDp. Though it is not clearly visible in voltammogram, the conversion of E to F takes place in two steps actually. The two stages having close oxidation potentials (0.3610 V and 0.4790 V) were more clearly visible in the voltammogram recorded at low scan rate (0.02 V/s). There are no counter cathodic and anodic peaks observed in this redox processes. This indicates the irreversible nature of the electron transfer processes [21]. Cyclic voltammogram of DmChDp at different scan rates is given in Figure 2(b). The mechanism of redox process can be best viewed with the help of Figure 3.

3.2. Weight Loss Measurements
3.2.1. Impact of Inhibitor Concentration

The parameters of corrosion obtained by weight loss studies are shown in Table 1. The data clearly shows that the rate of corrosion decreased with the concentration of DmChDp. Maximum inhibition efficiency of 94.01% was observed at 1 mM concentration in 1M HCl whereas it was 92.46% in 0.5M H2SO4. This clearly indicates that DmChDp is acting as a good corrosion inhibitor for MS in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4 according to gravimetric studies

3.2.2. Comparison between of DmChDp with Its Parent Compounds

The comparison of corrosion inhibition potency of DmChDp with parent ketone, 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione (Dm) and amine, 2-aminophenol (2AmP), was carried out by weight loss studies of mild steel in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4 at 28°C. The values of inhibition potency obtained are given in Table 2. The data indicates that the corrosion inhibition potency of DmChDp was very much higher than the corresponding parent ketone and amine in both acid media. This is due to the participation of electron rich azomethine –C=N- group present in DmChDp in the corrosion inhibition process [22, 23].

3.2.3. Determination of Adsorption Isotherm

The adsorption isotherms are used to illustrate the corrosion inhibition mechanism of molecules [24]. Isotherms give information regarding the nature of interaction between metal and inhibitor. Langmuir, El-Awady, Frumkin, Temkin, Freundlich, and Flory-Huggins isotherms are the different adsorption isotherms considered for the study [25, 26]. The most suitable isotherm was identified using correlation coefficient (R2). The best one for the adsorption behaviour of DmChDp on MS coupons in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4 was Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The isotherm is expressed aswhere is fractional surface coverage, C is concentration of the inhibitor, and is adsorption equilibrium constant. The relation between adsorption equilibrium constant and standard free energy of adsorption is given by [27, 28].where 55.5 is the molar concentration of water, R and T represent universal gas constant and temperature in K, respectively. The value upto -20 kJmol−1 indicates that the interaction of charged molecule and charged metal surface is electrostatic in nature (physisorption) while if its value is more negative than -40 kJmol−1 indicates the presence of coordinate type bond between inhibitor molecules and metal surface (chemisorption) [29]. In the present investigation, DmChDp on MS in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4 showed -34.86 and -30.37 kJmol−1, respectively, implying that the adsorption behaviour of DmChDp involves both electrostatic and chemical interaction. Langmuir adsorption isotherms of DmChDp on MS coupon in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4 at 28°C are shown in Figure 4. The predicted mechanism of interaction of DmChDp on MS surface in acid can be viewed with the help of Figure 5. It may be assumed that DmChDp interact on the metal mainly through aromatic rings and azomethine groups.

3.2.4. Impact of Temperature

Temperature dependent gravimetric investigations definitely benchmark the mode of corrosion inhibition process. The degree of corrosion is dependent on temperature, remarkably in acid media associated with hydrogen evolution. In the present work, the impact of temperature on the inhibition process was investigated using weight loss studies for 24 h in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4 with and without DmChDp at a temperature range 303-333 K.

The activation energy of metal dissolution was measured using an Arrhenius type equation given below [30, 31]where K, A, , R, and T represent corrosion rate, preexponential factor, activation energy, universal gas constant, and temperature in Kelvin, respectively.

Straight lines were obtained by plotting versus 1/T for MS specimens in acid, with and without DmChDp, shown in Figures 6(a) and 7(a). The activation energy needed for the metal dissolution in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4 was obtained from the slope of these plots. Thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy () and entropy () were evaluated using transition state theory (equation (6)) [32, 33].where N is the Avogadro number and h is the Planck’s constant. Values of and were obtained from the slope and intercept of the plot between log K/T versus 1/T for the metal dissolution in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4 (see Figures 6(b) and 7(b)). The values of parameters such as activation energy (), enthalpy of activation (), and entropy of activation () are given in Table 3. It was observed that the activation energy of corrosion in the presence of DmChDp was higher, compared to metal dissolution without DmChDp in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4 [34]. The endothermic character of metal dissolution process was reflected from the positive sign of enthalpy. It is also observed that and increased with rise in concentration of DmChDp. In 0.5M H2SO4 the entropy of activation for the metal dissolution was found to have negative values in the absence of DmChDp as well as at 0.2mM concentration. This mentions that the degree of randomness is low for the activated species, compared to the initial state. The randomness of activated complex goes up with rise in concentration of DmChDp and acquired positive values.

3.3. Electrochemical Studies
3.3.1. EIS Measurements

The nature of corrosion inhibition of DmChDp on MS in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4 was evaluated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy at 28°C. The impedance spectra of MS in the absence and presence of DmChDp at various concentrations in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4 are shown in Figures 8 and 9 (Nyquist and Bode plots). The impedance spectra showed a significant change on addition of DmChDp at various concentrations. The Nyquist plots of blank and treated specimen with DmChDp have similar shape but different size. This indicates that the mechanism of dissolution of metal is same in both cases. The sizes of the Nyquist plots were found to be increased with rise in concentration of DmChDp, which indicates that the impedance of MS increased when the concentration increased.

The inhibition potency also increased with concentration. The equivalent circuit used to fit the Nyquist plots (Randles circuit) is shown in Figure 10. The circuit consists of a double layer capacitance , solution resistance , and charge transfer resistance [3538]. Constant phase element (CPE) is inserted into the circuit in preference to pure double layer capacitance to lower the effects due to deformities on the surface of metal as shown in Figure 10 [39]. The impedance of CPE can be expressed as [40, 41]where is the magnitude of CPE, n is the exponent (phase shift), is the angular frequency, and j is the imaginary unit. Based on the values of n, CPE can be capacitance, inductance, and resistance. It is observed that the values of n are between 0.75 and 1.0, indicating the nature of capacitance of CPE. The impedance data such as , CPE, and the percentage of inhibition potency () of DmChDp are listed in Table 4.

Charge transfer resistance () is found to be increased with DmChDp concentration whereas capacitance () value is reduced. The increase of value is more in the case of 1M HCl. The decrease in values is due to the lowering of local dielectric constant and/or increase in thickness of electrical double layer [42]. The maximum inhibition potency of 91.66% is observed at 1mM concentration of DmChDp in 1M HCl whereas it is only 58.76% in 0.5M H2SO4.

3.3.2. Potentiodynamic Polarization Studies

Polarization data such as corrosion potential (), corrosion current densities (), cathodic slope (), anodic slope (), and inhibition potency () of DmChDp in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4 are listed in Table 5. Polarization curves in both acid media are shown in Figure 11.

From the polarization data it is understandable that corrosion current density decreased with the concentration of DmChDp; as a result, the percentage inhibition potency increased. A maximum inhibition efficiency of 94.87% and 50.79% was shown by DmChDp at 1mM concentration in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4 respectively. The and values showed that addition of DmChDp to acid media affected both cathodic and anodic parts of the curves and acted as a mixed type inhibitor [43, 44].

The evaluated corrosion inhibition efficiency of DmChDp according to gravimetric studies in H2SO4 medium was higher than that of EIS and potentiodynamic polarization investigations. This can be explained by the following mechanism. The molecular structure of DmChDp consists of two azomethine linkages. In general, azomethine bonds are susceptible to hydrolysis in acidic medium. Due to the puckered nature of DmChDp, it cannot interact well on the metal surface. Slow hydrolysis of DmChDp in 0.5M H2SO4 medium was confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy. It can be assumed that large number of DmChDp molecules did not undergo appreciable structural degradation for 1-2 h and thus exhibit poor corrosion inhibition potency on MS according to electrochemical studies. On keeping the Schiff base in 0.5M H2SO4 medium for a long time, it can be imagined that partial hydrolysis of the molecule takes place (for one C=N linkage only). This structural degradation of DmChDp may be highly beneficial to interact effectively on the MS surface, since the bulky nature of the molecule is appreciably lowered. The electron rich aromatic ring and the C=N linkage now can make coordinate type bonds with the surface metal atoms easily. Thus after a period of 24 h, DmChDp molecule showed much enhanced corrosion inhibition efficiency on MS surface.

3.4. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

The surface morphological studies of the MS coupons were done by scanning electron microscope. Figures 12(a)12(e) represent the SEM images of MS in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4 in the presence and absence of DmChDp (1mM). The morphological studies clearly established the surface of the polished mild steel coupon before treatment in acid solution was smooth and not corroded as shown in Figure 12(a). Significant change in the surface morphology was noticed after immersion in aggressive medium without inhibitor. It is clear from Figures 12(b) and 12(c) that corrosion is more prominent in 0.5M H2SO4, compared to that in 1M HCl. However in the presence of 1mM concentration of DmChDp the rate of corrosion was decreased and the surface deterioration has been reduced (Figures 12(d) and 12(e)). This is due to the surface coverage of the inhibitor molecule containing imino group. The aromatic rings and the azomethine linkage play great role in preventing dissolution of the metal and thereby protecting the mild steel from corrosion.

4. Conclusions

(1)DmChDp is an excellent corrosion inhibitor for MS in 1M HCl.(2)The maximum inhibition potency of DmChDp was 94.01% and 92.46% in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4 respectively according to weight loss measurements.(3)DmChDp exhibited very high corrosion inhibition potency, compared to the parent ketone, 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione and parent amine, 2-aminophenol.(4)In both acid media DmChDp obeys Langmuir adsorption isotherm.(5) value shows that the adsorption has both physical and chemical nature.(6)The activation energy of corrosion in the presence of DmChDp was higher, compared to metal dissolution without DmChDp in 1M HCl and 0.5M H2SO4. This implies that metal dissolution decreased with increase in inhibitor concentration due to adsorption of inhibitor on mild steel coupon.(7)Polarization data showed that DmChDp acts as mixed type inhibitor in both acid media.(8)CV studies reveal the irreversible nature of electron transfer processes.(9)The formation of protective layer on the MS was confirmed by surface morphological studies (SEM).

Data Availability

No data were used to support this study.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Acknowledgments

Authors are grateful to Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) for providing financial assistance for the research work.

Supplementary Materials

Characteristic stretching frequencies of various bonds in DmChDp were obtained from the IR spectrum. The azomethine moiety (C=N) was identified by the peak at 1600cm–1. A band at 3080cm–1 was due to the aromatic C-H bond stretching vibration. C-O was observed at 1238 cm–1. C=C stretching vibration of the aromatic ring was observed at 1564 and 1514 cm–1. A band at 3240 cm–1 indicates the stretching vibration of OH group. The C-H bond involving sp3 hybridized carbon gave characteristic bands at 2960 and 2877 cm–1. A peak at 1450 cm–1 corresponds to C-H bending vibration. In plane deformation was observed at 1147, 1114, and 1037 cm–1. Out of plane deformation was observed at 763 and 650 cm–1. Eight nonequivalent hydrogen atoms which were in different electronic environments gave characteristic peaks in the proton NMR spectrum. A peak obtained at 0.999 can be assigned to CH3 group present in the cyclohexane ring. The CH2 group adjacent to the carbon containing CH3 group showed a peak at 2.022 . The peak at 2.356 is assigned to the proton present in the carbon between two azomethine moieties. A broad peak at 9.877 corresponds to OH proton. The aromatic protons gave characteristic peaks at 6.819-7.078 . The appearance of a weak signal at 8.397 due to the NH proton and peak at 4.864 due to olefinic CH confirmed the existence of tautomerism. The presence of eleven chemically different carbon atoms was confirmed by 13C NMR spectrum. The azomethine carbon was identified at 95.88ppm. The aromatic carbons of the benzene ring exhibited six signals in the range 116.28-151.55ppm. Methylene carbon atoms labelled 3 and 5 exhibited their peaks at 32.329ppm and 49.783ppm, respectively. Methyl carbon atom exhibited a signal at 27.841ppm. Molecular ion peak at m/z 322 was absent. Base peak was observed at m/z 216, which is formed by the loss of amino phenolic moiety from the molecule. Loss of one phenolic moiety resulted in a peak at m/z 231 which corresponds to [C14H19N2 O]+. Peaks at m/z 178, 160, 146, 133, and 109 were due to the fragments [C11H16N O]+, [C9H8N2 O]+, [C9H10N2]+, [C8H7NO]+, and [C6H9N2]+, respectively. (Supplementary Materials)