Effect of Acidified Feronia elephantum Leaf Extract on the Corrosion Behavior of Mild Steel

Mild steel is used as a structural material for pipes, tank, reaction vessels, etc . which are known to corrode invariably in contact with various solvents. From the view point of a nation’s economy and financial implications of corrosion hazard, it is necessary to adopt appropriate means and ways to reduce the losses due to corrosion. The use of eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors are increasing day by day. Feronia elephantum leaf extract (FELE) has been tested as eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor for A262 mild steel in 1 M H 2 SO 4 and 1 M HCl solutions using non-electrochemical (Gravimetric, X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) and electrochemical techniques (open circuit potential, potentiostatic polarization, and electrochemical impedance measurements). The protection efficiency is found to increase with increase in FELE concentration but decrease with temperature, which is suggestive of physical adsorption mechanism. The adsorption of FELE on mild steel surface obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. SEM results confirm the formation of a protective layer by FELE over mild steel surface.