Experimental and theoretical studies on the electrochemical behavior of Al alloy treated by cyclohexanol-based inhibitor

Corrosion of aluminum alloys in aggressive environments such as seawater and industrial processes is a major challenge due to its negative impact on the mechanical properties, safety, and economic performance of the alloy. In this context, employing corrosion inhibitors stands out as one of the greatest effective approaches for combating the effects of this phenomenon. However, most commonly used inhibitor molecules are non-biodegradable and can cause adverse health and environmental effects. In this work, the corrosion inhibitive effect of Ethyl 3 – benzoyl -1- cyano-4 - hydroxy-2,4,6-triphenylcuclohexane-1-carboxylate (EBCHTC) was examined. This performance was investigated using some experimental tests such as gravimetric analysis, electrochemical measurements, and surface characterization. The findings indicate that the EBCHTC substantially improves corrosion resistance, achieving an efficiency of 93% with an optimal concentration of 1×10-3 M at 25°C. To understand the adsorption ability and stability of the inhibitor on the 3003 AA surface, various concentrations and temperatures with and without inhibitor was tested. The results show an out-standing inhibition efficiency in the diverse experimental environments, the EBCHTC belong to mixed-type inhibitor and the adsorption of the inhibitor molecules on the 3003AA surface is spontaneous and is physical-chemical adsorption. The capacity of the EBCHTC to act as a good anti-corrosion agent was justified using the computational tools. The drawn-in-silico conclusions are in good arrangement with experimental results.