Impact of gamma-ray-pre-irradiation on the efficiency of corrosion inhibition of some novel polymeric surfactants

The effect of gamma-ray-pre-irradiation on the efficiency of two types of polymeric surfactants, (I and II) as corrosion inhibitors for 304 stainless steel in 2 M hydrochloric acid solution was examined. The inhibition efficiency of the undertaken additives was evaluated using both chemical and electrochemical techniques. The chemical structure of the two polymeric surfactants is illustrated as follows: ▪ where MA=maleic anhydride; BP=block polymer of polyoxy ethylene–polyoxy propylene (M.Wt=5000 g mol −1). The obtained corrosion data, indicated that the corrosion inhibition efficiency of the inhibitor (II) was obviously not affected by gamma-ray-irradiation, meanwhile the efficiency of the inhibitor (I) demonstrated a remarkable decrease. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to examine the surface morphology of stainless steel samples after immersion in 2 M HCl solution in absence and presence of the inhibitors at concentration of 400 ppm before and after exposure to gamma-ray-radiation up to a total does of 100 kGy.