Design and characterization of sulfamethoxazole derivatives as potent corrosion inhibitors: insights from polarization studies

In this study, we present the synthesis and detailed characterization of novel sulfamethoxazole derivatives, designed to investigate their efficacy as corrosion inhibitors for mild steel in acidic environments. The synthesized compounds were analyzed using a range of spectroscopic techniques, including FTIR and 1H-NMR, to confirm their chemical structures and assess their purity. Electrochemical methods, particularly potentiodynamic polarization, were employed to evaluate the corrosion inhibition properties of these derivatives in a 1 M HCl solution. The results demonstrated that the sulfamethoxazole derivatives exhibit significant inhibition efficiencies, with values reaching up to 96%, depending on the concentration and experimental conditions. The potentiodynamic polarization studies revealed that the inhibitors function by forming a stable and protective adsorption layer on the metal surface, effectively reducing the corrosion rate. Additionally, the adsorption behavior was influenced by the structural features of the derivatives, including the presence of heteroatoms that enhance their affinity for metal surfaces. The findings suggest that these novel sulfamethoxazole derivatives are promising candidates as corrosion inhibitors, demonstrating strong potential for practical application in industrial settings where metal protection in corrosive environments, such as acidic conditions, is critical.