Cellulose acetate fibers as corrosion inhibitor delivery system for carbon steel

•Transformation of electrospun fibers into short fibers for effective dip coating.•Assessment of oleic acid as an eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor.•Development and testing of an environmentally friendly corrosion-resistant coating.•Innovative approach to reduce corrosion in chloride-rich environments. This study evaluated the effectiveness of electrospun cellulose acetate fibers (CAFs) containing oleic acid (OA) for corrosion inhibition on carbon steel in chloride-rich environments. By varying the OA content, CAFs of different thicknesses were produced. Potentiodynamic polarization showed that steel coated with OA-containing CAFs had enhanced corrosion resistance, with higher corrosion potential (Ecorr) and lower corrosion current density (icorr). The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results for the dip-coated sample showed an impedance increase of approximately 20× (from 2 to 40 kΩ cm2), and a capacitance reduction from 10−6 to 10−8 F cm−2, compared to the untreated sample. The protective effect remained even after 48 h of exposure. These findings suggest CAFs as effective carriers for delivering OA inhibitors, offering a promising solution for corrosion mitigation in saline environments.