Investigating the effect of polyvinylpyrrolidone–cysteine/TiO2 nanocomposite on the corrosion resistance of AISI 304 steel

Purpose Corrosion challenges associated with acid washing in the oil and gas sector are yet to be resolved, thereby incurring additional costs for production. Due to some synergistic attributes of Titanium dioxide nanoparticles and organic compounds such as polyvinylpyrrolidone and cysteine (PVPC), this study aims to investigate the effect of their composites on the corrosion resistance capability. Design/methodology/approach Materials were synthesized to form the PVPC nanocomposite. Different percentages of titanium dioxide nanoparticles were then added to HCl solutions at 60°C, and the resulting samples were subsequently characterized. The characterization was done through Fourier transform infrared to determine the chemical stability of the nanocomposite, and the scanning electron microscope was used to investigate the surface structure, whereas potentiostat was used for the electrochemical studies. Findings The results show that the addition of PVPC alone to the acid solution improves the corrosion resistance of AISI 304, but the performance of composites worsened as the concentration of TiO2 increased. It summarizes the negative impact of the corrosion on the chosen material. The research indicates no synergistic inhibition mechanisms existed between the inorganic TiO2 and organic PVPC. Therefore, sticking with pure PVPC proves ultimate. Originality/value Research in this area contributes to the fundamental understanding of nanocomposite-driven corrosion protection and the development of practical corrosion-resistant materials.