Benzimidazole derivatives were synthesized, characterized, and tested as a corrosion inhibitor for J55 steel in a 3.5 wt % NaCl solution saturated with carbon dioxide. The experimental results revealed that inhibitors are effective for steel protection, with an inhibition efficiency of 94% in the presence of 400 mg/L of inhibitor. The adsorption of the benzimidazole derivatives on J55 steel was found to obey Langmuir’s adsorption isotherm. The addition of inhibitors decreases the cathodic as well anodic current densities and significantly strengthens impedance parameters. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used for steel surface characterization. Density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamic simulation (MD) were applied for theoretical studies.

The corrosion inhibition behavior of a naphthoxazinone derivative 1-phenyl-1,2-dihydronaphtho[1,2-e][1,3]oxazin-3-one (PNO) on J55 steel in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution saturated with carbon dioxide was evaluated using weight loss, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization. The surface morphology on the metal sample was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The adsorption of PNO obeyed the Langmuir isotherm. The results of potentiodynamic polarization indicated that the PNO molecule behaved as a mixed type inhibitor by reducing both the anodic and the cathodic electrochemical reactions. The surface analysis showed that the metal surface is considerably smoother and with more uniform morphology in the presence of the inhibitor. DFT based quantum chemical calculations and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations supported the experimentally obtained results.

Herein, graphene oxide (GO) was chemically functionalized with polyethyleneimine (PEI) in a single step to obtain PEI-GO, which was characterized via FTIR spectroscopy, SEM, and TEM. Additionally, for the first time, PEI-GO was employed for the corrosion mitigation of carbon steel in a solution of 15% HCl. The corrosion performance of the inhibitor was evaluated by utilizing weight loss tests, electrochemical measurements with impedance analysis, electrochemical frequency modulation, and potentiodynamic polarization studies. Thorough surface analysis was performed using 3D profilometry and static water contact angle measurements. PEI-GO was adsorbed on the steel surface and showed mixed-type corrosion inhibition behavior with the prevalence of cathodic characteristics. Additionally, potassium iodide was incorporated in the acid solution as a synergistic agent to enhance the corrosion inhibition behavior of PEI-GO. The obtained results showed that PEI-GO alone provided a high corrosion inhibition efficiency of 88.24% at a temperature of 65 °C and in the presence of KI, it showed an I.E. of 95.77% due to their synergistic effect. These interesting results demonstrate that PEI-GO can act as a potential corrosion inhibitor in acidizing conditions. The DFT-based computational studies showed that the inhibitor functioned in both its neutral and protonated forms.