The effect of 1′,3,5,5′-tetramethyl-1′H-1,3′-bipyrazole on the corrosion of steel in 1.0 M hydrochloric acid

The effect of some prepared compounds, namely 3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole (P1), 3(5)-amino-5(3)-methylpyrazole (P2), and 1′,3,5,5′-tetramethyl-1′H-1,3′-bipyrazole (P3), on the corrosion behaviour of steel in 1.0 M hydrochloric acid solution as corrosive medium has been investigated at 308 K using weight-loss measurement, potentiodynamic polarisation, linear polarisation, and impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Generally, inhibition efficiency of the investigated compounds was found to depend on the concentration and nature of the inhibitor. P3 was a better inhibitor than P1 and P2, and its inhibition efficiency increased with increasing concentration of inhibitor, attaining 94% above 10−3 M. Potentiodynamic polarisation studies clearly reveal that P3 acts essentially as a cathodic inhibitor. E (%) values obtained from different methods are in reasonably good agreement. EIS measurements show an increase of transfer resistance with inhibitor concentration. Partial π-charge on atoms was calculated. Correlation between the highest occupied molecular orbital energy E HOMO and inhibition efficiencies was sought. The temperature effect on the corrosion behaviour of steel in 1.0 M HCl without and with different concentrations of inhibitor P3 was studied in the temperature range 308 to 343 K. Thermodynamic data, for example heat of adsorption (\( \Updelta H_{\text{ads}}^{^\circ } \)), entropy of adsorption (\( \Updelta S_{\text{ads}}^{^\circ } \)) and free energy of adsorption (\( \Updelta G_{\text{ads}}^{^\circ } \)) were calculated by use of thermodynamic equations. Kinetic activation data, for example E a, ΔH*, ΔS* and pre-exponential factor, were calculated, and are discussed. The inhibiting action of P3 on the corrosion of steel in 1–10 M hydrochloric acid was also studied by weight-loss measurement. The rate constant and reaction constant were calculated for the corrosion reactions. Adsorption of P3 on the steel surface in 1.0 M HCl follows the Langmuir isotherm model.