A Schiff Base‐Ce 3+ Complex as a High‐Efficiency Corrosion Inhibitor for 2024 Aluminum Alloy in High‐Temperature Concentrated HCl

ABSTRACT The rapid corrosion of aluminum alloy in high temperature and strong acid environment is a limiting factor for the application of drillable/soluble aluminum alloy support tubing under acid fracturing conditions. In view of the low corrosion inhibition of Schiff base corrosion inhibitor on aluminum alloy in high temperature and strong acid environment, the effects of the ratio of SBES (sodium dibromoethyl sulfonate), Ce 3+ and Schiff base corrosion inhibitor, and the amount of corrosion inhibitor on the corrosion inhibition of 2024 aluminum alloy were studied (the Schiff base was named XFJ, the optimal ratio of Schiff base to SBES was named 2‐XFJ, and the optimal ratio of 2‐XFJ to cerium nitrate was named 2X‐XFJ). The corrosion inhibition of 2024 aluminum alloy in 20‐wt.% HCl solution with XFJ, 2‐XFJ, and 2X‐XFJ added at 363 K was evaluated by weight loss method and electrochemical method. The corrosion inhibition mechanism of 2X‐XFJ was analyzed by XPS and molecular dynamics. The results showed that 2X‐XFJ had the best corrosion inhibition effect, and the corrosion inhibition rates calculated by weight loss method, electrochemical impedance method, and potentiodynamic polarization method were 84.5%, 91.5%, and 91.9%, respectively. 2X‐XFJ can spontaneously adsorb on the surface of 2024 aluminum alloy in parallel to form a uniform and dense protective film, which increases the film resistance and charge transfer resistance, thus improving its sustained corrosion inhibition efficiency.