Use of Trochodendron Aralioides Extract as Green Corrosion Inhibitor for Mild Steel in 1M HCl Solutions

Recently, there is an interesting discussion that has transpired around the world about the usage of plant extracts as corrosion inhibitors. We report that to control corrosion in mild steel (MS) specimens in a 1M HCl medium, Trochodendron aralioides (T. aralioides) extract was used as an economical green corrosion inhibitor. The various tests, namely, potentiodynamic polarization, weight loss measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were performed to analyze the inhibition efficiency (IE) of the extract. The highest IE value of 96.42% was seen at 250 ppm, with the IE% increasing as the extract concentration increased. Potentiodynamic polarization suggests that T. aralioides plant extract acts as a mixed-type inhibitor. UV–visible (UV–Vis) and FT-IR spectroscopy were performed with the inhibitor to study the adsorption mechanism and surface analysis of the specimen, respectively. The results revealed that plant extracts form a protective film on the surface of the specimens, increasing inhibition and thereby reducing corrosion. Surface morphological studies such as AFM, EDX and SEM tests were performed in the presence and absence of the inhibitor with the results being analyzed by observing the surface of the metal.