Theory and experimental investigations on the effect of the halogenated chain of new synthesis compounds based on benzimidazole derivatives on the inhibition corrosion of mild steel in acid media

In this study, the behavior of mild steel (MS) corrosion in hydrochloric acid (HCl) solutions in the presence of two new compounds, namely 2- ), was investigated.To analyze the inhibitory effects of these substances, several analytical techniques such as electrochemical tests, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and theoretical approaches (DFT and molecular dynamics) were used.The findings of the experiments showed that both 24B12CBI and 12C24CBI efficiently reduced MS corrosion in 1 M HCl, with a remarkable inhibition level of 90% at a concentration of 10 -3 M. The inhibitory mechanism was bifurcated, affecting both the anodic and cathodic processes.Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis revealed the presence of a singular loop in the diagrams, with an increase in loop size corresponding to higher inhibitor concentrations.This observation suggested the formation of a protective layer upon the metal surface.Furthermore, the 24B12CBI and 12C24CBI inhibitors exhibited minimal temperature dependence and the polarization resistance increased with time.SEM/EDX and AFM investigations confirmed the presence of a protective layer on the surface of the MS, lending credence to the electrochemical findings.Overall, the compounds 24B12CBI and 12C24CBI show significant potential as