Efficacy of Punica granatum peel extract on thermo mechanically treated steel bar corrosion through electrochemical noise analysis

Steel's exceptional tensile strength makes it a favored material across various industries. However, acids commonly used in processes like pickling, cleaning, and descaling expose steel to corrosion. Green corrosion inhibitors are sustainable alternative to synthetic inhibitors to mitigate this corrosion in different industries. The application of Punica granatum peel extract to prevent thermo mechanically treated steel bar (TMT) from corroding in 1M HCl is a promising green construction technique. The unexplored electrochemical noise test is performed to evaluate the inhibitory effectiveness of extract, offering a method that is easier and quicker than conventional techniques such as Tafel and EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy). Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) confirmed the adsorption and improved steel surface in HCl with extract. The UV-Vis (Ultraviolet visible spectroscopic study), FE-SEM (Field emission scanning electron microscopy) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses further validated the corrosion-inhibitive properties of the peel extract. This study signifies the alluring potential of Punica granatum peel extract as corrosion inhibitor for academic and industrial applications. To date, no studies have investigated electrochemical noise and ICP-MS tests to assess the corrosion inhibition performance of Punica granatum peel extract on TMT. • Punica granatum peel serves as an eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor for TMT bars in 1M HCl. • Electrochemical noise is a non-invasive test, continuously monitor corrosion in real-time without interrupting the system. • The increased noise resistance of steel with peel extract indicates the adsorption and the protective layer formation in acidic environments. • The UV-Vis and FE-SEM analyses validated the physisorption and chemisorption mechanism of the peel extract.