Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of Corrosion Inhibitive Potentials of (E)-4-hydroxy-3-[(2,4,6-tribromophenyl)diazenyl]benzaldehyde on Mild Steel in Acidic Media

Corrosion of metal surfaces amongst other problems is one major disaster militating against proper functioning of the oil and gas and other manufacturing industries. To therefore lessen the risk, organic corrosion inhibitors have been applied to lessen the rate of corrosion and its effects. However, materials with optimal properties, better than content that allow corrosion are used for this empirical research. (E)-4-hydroxy-3-(2,4,6-tribromophenyl)diazenyl)benzaldehyde was synthesized and elucidated via FTIR, UV/Vis and NMR (1H and 13C) spectroscopy. Weight loss and potentiodynamic polarization methods were understudy to determine the rate of corrosion (Cr) and percentage inhibition efficiency (%IE). The mechanism of adsorption agrees with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The surface morphology of the mild steel was determined using the SEM in the bi-condition of the presence and absence of inhibitor. Inhibition efficiency (IE) was varied with concentration and temperature. The results revealed that IE increased with high concentration of the inhibitor but reduced while the temperature was increased. The SEM revealed the formation of protective layer of the attachment of the inhibitor to the metal surface. The results from the experiments agreed well with those obtained from DFT methods. AD3 could therefore be used as an anticorrosive agent in the petroleum industry.