Surfactant as an anti-corrosive agent: a review

Abstract Metal corrosion has always been a serious problem in industry. There has always been a need to increase the number of possible, cost-effective corrosion inhibitors. However, many commercially available corrosion inhibitors have both high efficiency and high toxicity, which has led environmental authorities to ban their use. As a result, there is growing interest in scientific research into the use of environmentally friendly compounds. Surfactants and biocompatible corrosion inhibitors are special types of chemicals suitable for long-term industrial use. Molecules with unique hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties can be used in a wide range of applications to solve solubilisation problems and improve extraction processes. The use of surfactant-based products to prevent corrosion on metallic surfaces is a new approach in the field of chemical science. This review article addresses the mechanism of corrosion on metal surfaces and discusses in detail the use of environmentally friendly, cost-effective and readily available surfactants as corrosion inhibitors. The properties and applications of different types of surfactants are also discussed.