Corrosion Inhibition Potential of Aqueous Extract of Bauhinia acuminata Linn Leaves on Carbon Steel in Hydrochloric Acid Medium

The corrosion of carbon steel in 1 N HCl was analyzed using an aqueous Bauhinia acuminata Linn (BaL) leaf extract. Weight loss method was used to determine the inhibitor efficaciousness and corrosion rate. When dissolved in water, a linneus plant leaf extract exhibit an inhibitory effect which is proportionate to the amount of inhibitors present. It is possible to speed up the corrosion process by increasing the inhibitors’ concentration. Studies have shown that the BaL leaves extract has a 97.30% inhibitory efficiency. By increasing the concentration of inhibitor solutions, a surface layer forms on carbon steel, which inhibits the activity of the active site. The potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and AC impedance studies (EIS) were employed to examine the mechanical properties of corrosion inhibition. The surface homogeneity and irregularity of carbon steel were examined using AFM and SEM under polished, corroded and inhibitor-treated surfaces. The surface irregularity of the carbon steel were analyzed using atomic force microscopy.