Chitosan-copper MOF for corrosion inhibition of Q345 steel: Performance, mechanism, and temperature effects

The corrosion of Q345 steel in harsh environments (humidity, acidity, salt spray) severely compromises its service life and structural safety, driving the need for efficient corrosion protection materials. This study evaluates chitosan-copper metal-organic framework (CS@Cu MOF) for Q345 steel corrosion protection, investigating its inhibition mechanisms and performance. The influence of CS@Cu MOF on the corrosion behavior of Q345 steel was systematically studied by adjusting its concentration, test temperature, and corrosion time using the mass loss method. Additionally, changes in the steel surface morphology were observed using a high-precision optical microscope (OM) to further explore the corrosion protection mechanism of CS@Cu MOF. Results demonstrated that CS@Cu MOF exhibited significant corrosion inhibition efficiency under most conditions, though nonlinearly related to concentration, with the lowest efficiency at 80 mg/L. As the concentration increased, the corrosion inhibition efficiency initially decreased and then increased. Notably, the corrosion inhibition performance of CS@Cu MOF significantly declined under high-temperature conditions, indicating limited thermal stability. Micro-morphological analysis revealed that CS@Cu MOF effectively reduced corrosion damage on the surface of Q345 steel, confirming its anti-corrosion efficacy in practical applications. Future research may focus on optimizing the high-temperature stability and durability of CS@Cu MOF to enhance its performance in extreme environments.