Investigation of the Corrosion Inhibition Performance of a Benzothiazole-Based Schiff Base in Acidic Medium

Abstract

The present study focuses on the synthesis and comprehensive evaluation of a newly synthesized benzothiazole-based Schiff base compound as a potential corrosion inhibitor in acidic medium. The increasing deterioration of metallic materials in acidic environments poses significant challenges in industrial processes, particularly during acid pickling, cleaning, descaling, and oil and gas operations. Therefore, the development of efficient and environmentally acceptable corrosion inhibitors is of considerable importance. In the present investigation, the synthesized benzothiazole Schiff base was evaluated for its ability to protect metal surfaces against corrosion under acidic conditions. A systematic experimental approach was employed to investigate the corrosion inhibition performance of the synthesized compound. Electrochemical techniques were utilized to examine the influence of the inhibitor on the electrochemical corrosion behaviour of the metal substrate, while surface characterization techniques were employed to assess changes in surface morphology and the protective nature of the inhibitor film. The inhibition efficiency was studied as a function of inhibitor concentration and experimental conditions to understand the interaction between the inhibitor molecules and the metal surface. The results indicate that the benzothiazole Schiff base possesses significant corrosion inhibition potential, which can be attributed to the presence of heteroatoms and functional groups capable of interacting with the metal surface through adsorption. The formation of a protective adsorbed layer effectively reduces the interaction of the corrosive medium with the metal surface and consequently suppresses the corrosion process. The findings demonstrate that the synthesized benzothiazole Schiff base can serve as a promising candidate for corrosion protection in acidic environments. The study also provides useful insights into the relationship between the molecular structure of benzothiazole-based Schiff bases and their corrosion inhibition behaviour, thereby contributing to the development of efficient organic corrosion inhibitors for practical applications.