Understanding the adsorption of cationic gemini surfactants on steel surface in hydrochloric acid

Corrosion inhibition of the gemini surfactants 1,2-ethane bis(dimethyl alkyl (CnH2n+1) ammonium bromide) (n = 10, 12 and 16) on the steel surface in 1 M hydrochloride acid was studied using the weight loss method. It was found that the adsorption mechanism of this kind of double-chained gemini surfactants on the steel surface was quite different from that of conventional single-chained surfactants because of their special molecular structures. Adsorption mechanisms of gemini surfactants above and below critical micelle concentration (CMC) were discussed, respectively.