An efficient screening of dissolution modulators of Mg alloys: Combining high-throughput multi-well exposure with topographical quantification of volume loss and pitting corrosion

Experimental exploration of the vast number of potentially effective organic inhibitors presents a major bottleneck in finding suitable alternatives for chromate-based corrosion inhibitors as the quantities of these organic compounds are essentially infinite. To tackle this challenge, a multi-well experimental method for corrosion inhibitor screening has been proposed in this work. The inhibition effect and pitting factor of 229 potential inhibitors were determined by profilometric analysis using the high-throughput experiment. The accuracy is validated by traditional gravimetric weight loss analysis. The obtained results indicate that the developed approach is of great significance in accelerating the discovery and application of dissolution modulators. • 229 organic compounds were tested as potential corrosion inhibitors for AZ31 alloy. • Volume loss and pitting factor after corrosion were quantified by profilometry. • The reliability of the profilometric results was validated by gravimetry. • The effect of the molecular structure on inhibition efficiency was discussed.