Corrosion protection of copper by L-arginine

In the present study L-Arginine was used against the corrosion of copper in 0.5M HNO3 solution are made using potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and weight loss techniques. The results of potentiodynamic polarization technique showed that the protector is mixed type. Data obtained from impedance spectra were analyzed with model inhibition process through appropriate equivalent circuit models. The quantum chemical calculations explain the good protector of L-Arginine on the copper surface and enhance the inhibition efficiency. Simple approach was developed for generating hydrophobic surface modification of copper. Induced by the lotus effect in which water droplets falling on the leaves bead up and roll off, copper immersed in 0.5M HNO3 in the presence of L-Arginine was attempted to create hydrophobic surfaces. However, the water contact angle on presence of protector was found to be 142° ± 4°, whereas in the case of copper, it was 85° ± 2°. A detailed description of the modified hydrophobic surface in 0.5M HNO3 on copper is presented in this article.