Corrosion Inhibition and Adsorption Behavior of Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate on L80 Carbon Steel in Acetic Acid Solution and Its Synergism with Ethanol

The application of sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) as an anionic surfactant and its synergistic combination with ethanol for inhibition of corrosion of L80 carbon steel in acetic acid solutions were investigated by means of potentiodynamic polarization measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) investigations. The inhibition efficiency increases with an increase in concentration of SLES. The adsorption of SLES on the surface of L80 carbon steel obeys the Freundlich isotherm. SLES acts predominately as an anodic inhibitor. XRD, EDX, and SEM examinations of the electrode surface confirmed the adsorption of SLES on the electrode surface. The addition of ethanol with SLES significantly enhances the inhibition effectiveness and generates a strong synergistic effect.