Synergistic Effect between Fragaria ananassa and Cucurbita pepo L Leaf Extracts on Mild Steel Corrosion in Hydrochloric Acid Solutions
Leila Khatib, H. T. Rahal, A.M. Abdel‐Gaber
Abstract
Abstract The thermodynamic, inhibitive and synergistic properties of Fragaria ananassa (strawberry) and Cucurbita pepo L (zucchini) leaf extracts on the corrosion of mild steel in Hydrochloric acid solutions were examined by potentiodynamic polarization curves measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique as well as optical photographic study. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV-Spectroscopy were applied to predict the possible functional groups and constituents of both leaf extracts. Potentiodynamic polarization curves proved that Fragaria ananassa and Cucurbita pepo L leaf extracts act as mixed type inhibitors for mild steel in 0.5 M HCl solutions. Impedance plots indicated that the corrosion process occurred under activation control. Thermodynamic parameters proved that the formation of the activated complex is an endothermic association instead of a dissociation step. The inhibitive efficiency of these leaf extracts relies on their physical adsorption on the metal surface rather than the complexation with Fe2+ ions. Cucurbita pepo L leaf extract is more efficient than Fragaria ananassa as a corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in 0.5 M HCl. The synergistic effect between both extracts may be due to co-adsorption between their molecules, which could be either competitive or co-operative adsorptions. The synergistic parameter value S was higher than unity indicating a cooperative synergistic effect.