Volume 3 Paper 25


Organic Corrosion Inhibitors for Aluminum in Sodium Hydroxide

A.K. Maayta

Keywords: aluminum, sodium hydroxide, corrosion, inhibitors, sulfonic acid, sodium cumene sulfonate, sodium alkyl sulfate, weight loss

Abstract:

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JCSE Volume 3 Paper 25 Submitted 11th October 2002 Organic Corrosion Inhibitors for Aluminum in Sodium Hydroxide A.K. Maayta Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box: 3030, Irbid, Jordan. comment()Abstract� Inhibition of corrosion of aluminum in aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide in the presence of sulfonic acid, sodium cumene sulfonate and sodium alkyl sulfate was studied in relation to the concentration of inhibitor, concentration of corrosive medium at various temperatures applying weight loss method. The additives tested were found to be good inhibitors for aluminum corrosion in aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide in the studied concentration range. Due to the adsorption of the additive molecules on the metal surface the inhibition efficiency increases with increasing additive concentration, Sulfonic acid shows the best inhibition capability for aluminum corrosion in sodium hydroxide, probably, this is due to the planer orientation of the adsorbed additive molecules. Inhibition efficiency of the inhibitors tested increases with decreasing sodium hydroxide concentrations. The higher the temperature, the lower was the inhibition efficiency, which is due to the fact, that the rate of corrosion of aluminum is higher than the rate of adsorption. comment()Keywords: aluminum, sodium hydroxide, corrosion, inhibitors, sulfonic acid, sodium cumene sulfonate, sodium alkyl sulfate, weight loss. Introduction comment()Because of their lightweight and mechanical strength, aluminum and its alloys are very attractive materials for engineering applications. The interest of these materials arises from their importance in the recent civilization. Inhibition of metal corrosion by organic compounds is a result of adsorption of organic molecules or ions at the metal surface forming a protective layer. This layer reduces or prevents corrosion of the metal. The extent of adsorption depends on the nature of the metal, the metal surface condition, the mode of adsorption, the chemical structure of the inhibitor, and the type of corrosive media [1]. Heteroatoms in the structure of inhibitor molecules, such as oxygen (O) nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), sulpher (S) and the presence of aromatic rings or triple bonds enhance the adsorption process. It has been reported that the inhibition efficiency increases in the order: O < N < S < P [2-5]. Corrosion inhibition of aluminum and its alloys was the subject of numerous studies [6-13]. A literature survey showed only limited systematic work done to the corrosion inhibition of aluminum and its alloys in various corrosive media [14-15]. comment()The purpose of the present article is to study the application of sulfonic acid (SA), sodium cumene sulfonate (SCS) and sodium alkyl sulfate (SAS), as corrosion inhibitors for aluminum in aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide (NaOH). A literature survey revealed that the selected additives have never been tested as corrosion inhibitors for aluminum in sodium hydroxide. Experimental comment()The inhibition efficiency of aluminum in aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) by using sulfonic acid, sodium cumene sulfonate and sodium alkyl sulfate as inhibitors was determined by the weight loss method. The testes were performed with samples of aluminum in the form of rods measuring 30 mm by 3 mm diameter that were cut from commercial pure aluminium (Al 99.5 %). comment()The aluminum samples were first abraded with emery paper 800, degreased with acetone, rinsed with distilled water then dried. The organic inhibitors used were in pure form. Analar sodium hydroxide pills, dissolved in double distilled water to the selected concentrations, were taken as corrosive media. The testes were carried out at different concentrations of additives (25, 50, 100, 150 and 200 ppm) and concentrations of corrosive media (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 M) at temperatures (30, 40, 50 and 60 oC). The volume of the test solution was 10 mL and the immersion time for each test was 30 minutes. A water thermostat controlled to � 0.5 oC maintained the temperature. comment()The percentage inhibition (I %) of aluminum was determined from weight losses as follows:                                            (1) Where Wo and Win are the weight losses of aluminum specimens without and with inhibitor, respectively. The percentage inhibition was then plotted vs concentration of additives and corrosive media at different temperatures. comment()The surface coverage (θ) was calculated from weight loss as follows:�                                                (2) Result and Discussion comment()The curves in Fig.1 represent the percentage inhibition (I %) of aluminum corrosion for various NaOH concentration vs the concentration of sulfonic acid (SA) in ppm at 30, 40, 50 and 60 oC, respectively. comment()The corresponding curves for (SCS) and (SAS) showed similar behavior as those of Fig.1 but with less inhibition efficiency. For the three tested additives the percentage inhibitor (I %) increased with increasing inhibitor concentrations reaching a maximum value. This issue might be explained by the adsorption of inhibitor molecules forming monolayer [16]. A very important criterion to characterize the efficiency of inhibitors is their efficiency to concentration ratio. High protection at low inhibitor concentrations is required, not only for economic reasons, but also to maintain appropriate inhibitor concentration and avoid insufficient inhibition [17]. The ratio for 200 ppm and 0.5 M NaOH at 30 oC was calculated to 0.47, 0.42 and 0.33 for SA, SCS and SAS, respectively. comment()High rate of reaction relative to the rate of adsorption led to a slight decrease in the inhibition efficiency with increasing temperature, but the inhibitive effect still persists even at 60 oC. This behavior indicates that the adsorbed molecules formed a barrier film on the aluminum surface [18].�� comment()The effect of sodium hydroxide strength on the inhibition efficiency of the additives tested showed an increase in the efficiency with decreasing NaOH concentration, which was an evident to apply NaOH as corrosive media even at low concentrations. comment()Fig.2 represents the variation of SA, SCS and SAS on aluminum corrosion in 0.5 M NaOH at 30 oC with the additive concentration. It is obvious that the efficiency decreases in the order:� SA > SCS > SAS. To explain this trend one can say that both the benzene ring and the attached functional groups contribute to the inhibition action, which is also affected by the substituents on (CH2)3 benzene ring. Sulfonic acid (SA) molecules probably favor flat orientation on the metal surface to be adsorbed, while sodium cumene sulfonate (SCS) molecules favor vertical orientation due to steric effect. Thus sulfonic acid is better adsorbed and also has higher inhibition efficiency than (SCS). Sodium alkyl sulfate (SAS) was found to be less inhibitor than the others; this was due to its less adsorption on the metal surface. comment()Fig.3 shows the variation of the inhibition efficiency of SA, SCS and SAS with temperature in 0.5 M NaOH for 200 ppm inhibitor concentration. Higher efficiency was obtained for (SA) at lower temperature range. The limiting I % values, in Fig.1 and 2, indicated the complete formation of the monolayer film of additive molecules on the active sites of aluminum surface. Evidence for this conclusion was obtained by plotting Langmuir adsorption isotherms at 60 oC. comment()Fig.4 represents the Langmuir isotherms for the effect of (SA) on the Al corrosion in various NaOH concentrations. The resulting parallel straight lines at different temperatures confirm that the inhibition was due to the adsorption of (SA) on the metal surface. comment()The corresponding isotherms for (SCS) and (SAS) showed similar parallel straight lines. The degree of surface coverage (θ) varied linearly with the logarithm inhibitor concentration fitting Langmuir adsorption isotherm [19]. ��������������������� Log� θ� /� 1 - θ� =� Log� C� +� Log� k������������������������������������������������������������� (3) comment()Where k is the adsorption constant, C is the inhibitor concentration. comment()Fig.5 shows Langmuir isotherms for (SA), for aluminum corrosion in 0.5 M NaOH. The corresponding isotherms for (SCS) and (SAS) show similar shapes as those in Fig.5. comment()Fig. 6 represents Langmuir isotherms for SA, SCS and SAS at 30 oC and 0.5 M NaOH. This trend supports the obtained issue previously in Fig. 2.� Conclusions comment()It can be concluded, that: comment()1. The organic compounds tested were beneficial inhibitors for aluminum corrosion in alkaline media and the inhibition efficiency varies in the order: ����� SA >� SCS >� SAS comment()2.�� Inhibition efficiency increases with increasing inhibitor concentration and decreasing concentration of corrosive media. comment()3.�� The higher the temperature the lower is the inhibition efficiency. comment()4.�� Inhibition was attributed to adsorption of inhibitor molecules at the surface of aluminum, which fits Langmuir adsorption isotherm.� References 1.� M. R. Saleh, A. M. Shams El-din, Corros. Sci. 21, 6 (1981) P. 439 2.� J. G. N. Thomas, �Some New Fundamental Aspects in Corrosion Inhibition� 5th Europ Symp. Corros. Inhibitors, Ferrara, Italy, (1980) Ferrara Italy: Univ. Ferrara (1981) P. 453 3.� B. D. C. Donnelly, T. C. Downie, R. Grzeskowiak, H. R. Hamburg, D. Short, Corros. Sci. 18 (1977) P. 109 4.� A. B. Tadros, Y. Abdel-Naby, J. Electroanal. Chem. 224 (1988) P. 433 5.� N. C. Subramanyam, B. S. Sheshardi, S. A. Mayanna, Corros. Sci. 34 (1993) P. 563 6.� A. S. Fouda, M. N. Moussa, F. I. Taha, A. I. Elneanea, Corron. Sci. 26 (1986)P. 719 7.� M. S. Elbasiouny, A.S. Babaqi, R. M. Abdulla, Bull. Electrochem. 6 (1990) p. 909 8.� Sanakarapavinasam, F. Pushpanadem, M. F. Ahmed, J Appl Electrochem. 2 (1991) p. 625 9.� H. Scholl, M. M. D. Jimenez, Corros. Sci. 33 (1992) P. 1967 �10.� E. Khamis, m. Atea, Corros. 50 (1994) P. 106��� ��� 11.� J. D. Talati, R. M. Modi, Corros. Sci. 19 (1979) P. 35 12.� S. M. Hassan, M. N. Moussa, M. M. El-Taghoury and A. A. Radi, Anti- Corrosion 37/2 (1990) P.8 13.� M. N. Moussa, M. M. Taghoury, A. A. Radi and S. M. Hassan, Anti- Corrosion 37/3 (1990) P. 4 14.� B. W. Samuels, K. Sotoudeh, R. T. Foley, Corros 37 (1981) P. 92 15.� M. G. A. Kheder, A. M. S. Lashein, J. Electrochem. Soc. 136 (1989) P. 968 16.� O. L.Jr.Riggs(1973),in Nathan,C.C (Ed), Corros.Inhibitors,NACE,Houston, Tx. P. 7 17.� G.Schmitt,� Br.Corros. J.19 (1984) P. 166 18.� R. J. Tedesschi, Corros. 31 (1975) P. 130 19.� I. Langmuir, J. Am. Soc. 38 (1916) P. 2221 ���������������������������������������������������������������� Figures comment()Fig.1 Effect of SA concentration on inhibition efficiency of Al corrosion in NaOH   ����� Fig. 2 Variation of inhibition efficiency of SA, SCS and SAS with inhibitor concentration in�0.5 M NaOH at 30 oC.���������������������������� comment()Fig. 3 Variation of inhibition efficiency of SA, SCS and SAS on Al corrosion with�temperature for 200 ppm and 0.5 M NaOH comment()Fig. 4 Langmuir adsorption isotherms for SA in various NaOH concentrations at 6o oC ����������� ������������������������������������������� comment()Fig. 5 Langmuir adsorption isotherms for SA in 0.5 M NaOH ����������������� comment()Fig. 6 Langmuir adsorption isotherms for SA, SCS and SAS at 30oC in 0.5 M NaOH